Who Will Be Ayodhya Ram Temple’s First CEO? Trust to Decide Today

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is expected to announce the first Chief Executive Officer of the Ayodhya Ram Temple on Wednesday. The final list prepared by the CEO selection committee will be presented at a meeting scheduled at Trust president Nritya Gopal Das’s residence. The Trust will select one name from the three-member shortlist. The names of the new general secretary and two other members are also expected to be announced. Retired Justice Pramod Kohli, retired Lieutenant Governor Vishnu Kant Chaturvedi and expert member Suresh Hawde, who are part of the selection committee, have already reached Ayodhya. Kohli said the committee reviewed 5,585 applications for the CEO post and interviewed 16 candidates in the final stage.

The appointments come amid vacancies in key positions within the Trust. General Secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra had resigned following a controversy over allegations concerning the theft of offerings and donations at the temple. Another vacancy arose following the death of trustee Vimlendra Mohan Pratap Mishra. Meanwhile, Jagadish Afle of Pune, who is associated with the RSS, is expected to be appointed as the Trust’s first secretary. Afle, who holds an MTech from IIT Bombay, served as project manager during the construction of the Ram Temple. VHP International General Secretary Bajrang Lal Bagda is also reportedly likely to be inducted into the Trust.