Chandrababu-Lokesh nexus behind loot of Temple Lands Worth Rs. 1,500 Crore 

Tadepalli, September 12: YSRCP Guntur Parliament Constituency Observer Pothina Venkata Mahesh strongly criticized the coalition government for enabling unprecedented plunder of temple lands under the direct watch of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Minister Nara Lokesh. Addressing the media at the party’s central office in Tadepalli, he exposed large-scale irregularities in temple land management, sanitation tenders, and lease policies.

He revealed that in just one week, temple lands worth Rs. 1,500 crore were diverted in violation of established norms. The most glaring example was the removal of 1,036 acres of Vinagada Jagannmohan Venugopala Swamy temple lands in Tiruvuru, NTR district, from the prohibited list. Despite the Supreme Court barring the sale of inam lands and the High Court restricting claims to only 28 acres, the government manipulated records to benefit vested interests.

Mahesh also exposed corruption in sanitation tenders of seven major temples: Srikalahasti, Srisailam, Kanipakam, Vijayawada Durga temple, Dwaraka Tirumala, Annavaram, and Simhachalam. Contracts were earlier managed separately at under Rs. 50 crore for two years was consolidated and awarded to one contractor for nearly Rs. 100 crore, despite his history of non-compliance and pending Lokayukta cases.

Further, through GO 139, the government replaced temple land auctions with long-term 33-year leases, effectively handing over properties to select beneficiaries. This has already endangered prime lands, including 40 acres of Machilipatnam temple property worth Rs. 400 crore.

Mahesh questioned Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan’s silence, despite his “Varahi Declaration” pledging protection of temple assets, and criticized BJP leaders for turning a blind eye to these developments.

He emphasized that the coalition government has betrayed Hindu devotees by violating judicial orders, undermining sacred trusts, and diverting temple wealth, warning that such actions would invite severe public backlash.