In Andhra Pradesh, the BJP and TDP lodged a complaint with the Elections Commission of the state against A.V. Dharma Reddy, the Executive Officer of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), on April 8th, alleging serious misconduct and misuse of his official capacity and favouritism towards CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and his government. They also voiced concern about him serving at TTD for more than 7 years, which is not a general practice while on deputation.
According to the complaint lodged by Pattabhi Ram Kommareddy of the Telugu Desam Party and Bhanu Prakash Reddy Gudipalli of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), “A.V. Dharma Reddy is an IDES Officer [1991] in the office of DG DE [Ministry of Defence], New Delhi. He is on deputation in the service of the Andhra Pradesh government and has been working as Executive Officer, TTD, since May 2019. Further, he has been on extended deputation since 2022, and the tenure will come to an end by May 14, 2024. Previously, he was in the service of TTD during 2005. Thus, he completed more than nine years of service on the deputation. Now again, the Chie Minister of A.P. recommended his case for extension of his services to the Ministry of Defense.“
The complaint says that A.V. Dharma Reddy has been on deputation for more than nine years. His appointment as JEO, TTD Tirumala, in 2005 and from 2019 to the present is based only on the special recommendation of the current Chief Minister, Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, and the previous Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy.
They accused that during his tenure, Dharma Reddy favoured the current YSRCP government by offering special advantages, including a reserved quota for YSRCP party leaders at the holy pilgrimage site of Tirumala, which deviates from established norms. As a TTD official, he travels on special flights, spending an extensive amount of time with wealthy individuals and businesspeople and using this personal relationship to persuade them to support the ruling YSRCP.
They also allege that TTD tendered Rs. 1500 crore worth of contracts to the agents of TTD chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy’s son, who is running as an MLA candidate in the current general elections, and this money could be used to influence the elections.
The BJP and TDP leaders recall that in TTD’s history, civil works worth Rs. 1500 crore have never been tendered in a single year.
In the midst of general elections, CM Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy once again wrote a letter seeking an extension of his services.
Talking to Organiser, Yamini Sharma, Spokesperson of BJP Andhra Pradesh, said “Government employees are expected to work in the interest of the country and its citizens, but when they prioritise their work over individual interests or party affiliations, then it becomes natural to suspect such employees and their actions. We supported our argument with evidence to seek suitable action against the EO Dharma Reddy by EC.”
In light of these concerns, the TDP and BJP have urged the EC to remove A.V. Dharma Reddy from his position as EO of TTD to prevent him from misusing his official position to assist the ruling YSR Congress Party in these elections.
