Several nominated and administrative positions have reportedly remained vacant for long in crucial departments of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), likely casting a shadow on its administration.

After taking over the reins of the State, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had announced the initiation of administrative reforms at the TTD, however, the reality has been quite different.

The position of Joint Executive Officer (Tirupati) has remained vacant following the transfer of V. Veerabrahmam. It is currently being held by Joint EO (Health and Education) A. Sharath, a retired bureaucrat.

Similarly, Sri Venkateswara Bhakti Channel (SVBC), the TTD’s visual media arm, has reportedly been without an administrator for long. It neither has a CEO to manage its operations nor has the government nominated a figurehead Chairman, despite demands from politicians and celebrities.

Over the past two years, the SVBC has been headed by an ‘in-charge CEO’, with four individuals taking on this role — the then JEO V. Veerabrahmam, the TTD Forest Officer D. Phanikumar Naidu, Audit Officer Venkateswara Rao, and currently the JEO A. Sharath.

The fate of SVBC’s training arm, Sri Venkateswara Employees Training Academy (SVETA), has been no different. After the YSRCP-appointed Bhumana Subramanyam Reddy stepped down following regime change, the TTD appointed an in-charge official, K. Rajagopala Rao, in July 2024, and V. Venkata Ratnam in July 2026.

Even the Executive Officers are reportedly finding it difficult to grapple with the developments due to their short stints. J. Syamala Rao was appointed in June 2024 and had to step down in September 2025, followed by Anil Kumar Singhal, who served for just five months. Another senior bureaucrat, Muddada Ravichandra, is now holding its reins.

“The TTD has tremendous reach across the globe, as millions not only follow its activities with implicit faith but also take its actions as dictates of Lord Srinivasa. Due seriousness has to be attached to each and every event in the TTD,” said former Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh, L.V. Subrahmanyam, who had served as the TTD’s Executive Officer from June 2011 to July 2013.

A senior official, requesting anonymity, told The Hindu that the government had been notified of these vacancies, with an appeal to fill them at the earliest.

Published - July 23, 2026 07:45 pm IST