Vizianagaram: Sanchaita appointment triggers political row

Vizianagaram: The overnight decision taken by the AP government to abolish the old trust board and forming a new trust board for Simhachalam temple and for Maharaja Alak Narayana Society for Arts and Science (MANSAS) has turned into a major controversial issue. The government had made Sanchaita Gajapathi Raju, the daughter of late Ananda Gajapathi Raju as hereditary chairman of Simhachalam Devasthanam and to MANSAS trust at Vizianagaram. Anand Gajapathi Raju is brother of Ashok Gajapathi Raju.

After demise of Anand Gajapathi, Ashok Gajapathi Raju has been working as chairman for temple and trust also. The trust had more than 14,000 acres of land in north Andhra and Godavari districts also. The trust is running various schools, colleges from KG to PG including a n engineering college namely MVGR college of Engineering. But the appointment of Sanchaita, who has no emotional bond and connection with this area was made chairman for both Simhachalam temple and MANSAS has raised several doubts among people.

Actually, Sanchaita is undergoing treatment for her illness in Delhi and didn't respond so far on this issue but the locals, who has utmost regard on Ashok and the royal family are not convinced with this decision taken by the government.

The locals feel that Ashok and his fore fathers have established the trust for social service and providing education for thousands of poor students but this government has targeted Ashok and his family and insulting the gentleman with political motive. Even the royal family has emotional bond and sentimental feelings with Varaha Narasimhaswamy temple of Simhachalam and for every Chandanotsav and Nijaroopa darsanam of that god Appanna, either Ashok or Anand will offer silk robes from their family as hereditary trustees of that temple but now the government has simply appointed Sanchaita as its chief.

MLC D Jagadish stated that the government is intentionally defaming former Union minster Ashok Gajapathi Raju and trying to grab the temple and trust. None from this district will support such a decision, he said.