Reconsider Tirumala Darshan Tickets: BC Leader Appeals to TTD

Dundra Kumaraswamy, president of the National BC Dal and chairman of the BC Reservations Achievement Coordination JAC, has urged authorities to provide relief to devotees visiting Tirumala for Lord Venkateswara’s darshan. He said restrictions on accepting recommendation letters for darshan and accommodation, amid the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct for local body elections, were causing difficulties for devotees. Many people travel long distances and incur considerable expenses to visit the temple, only to face uncertainty over darshan arrangements. Kumaraswamy urged the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) to explore alternatives that comply with election rules while easing the difficulties faced by ordinary devotees. If free darshan or other special facilities cannot be provided based on recommendation letters, he requested officials to consider allowing devotees to book ₹300 special entry darshan tickets.

Kumaraswamy also suggested exploring alternatives such as allocating ticket quotas for different states or making tickets available through a transparent online system to help devotees plan their visits. He stressed that the arrangements should not create a perception that ordinary devotees face unnecessary difficulties compared with those receiving facilities under official protocol. He appealed to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan to examine the issue and discuss possible solutions with TTD officials. He further called for clear guidelines on ticket allocation in accordance with the Model Code of Conduct and TTD regulations, emphasising that darshan should be made more accessible while respecting every devotee’s faith.