The appointment of Konidela Surekha, wife of Megastar Chiranjeevi, to the Yadagirigutta Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple Trust Board has triggered a political controversy in Telangana.
In particular, BRS leader K Kavitha has questioned the decision, especially the regional background of the appointee.
Kavitha questioned how a person associated with Andhra Pradesh could be given a position on the board of a prominent temple in Telangana.
Her remarks have turned the appointment into a political issue, with the opposition questioning the Telangana government’s choice of trustees.
The controversy has also brought Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy into the discussion. Kavitha has frequently attacked the Congress government over its policies and decisions, and her recent comments have brought the Mega family into the political debate.
Yadagirigutta (Yadadri) is one of the major Hindu pilgrimage centres in Telangana. The Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple has undergone massive redevelopment and is a major religious and tourism destination for the state.
The temple trust board is responsible for the management and development of the shrine. Its members have much to do with temple management, temple life and facilities for the temple’s devotees and other development.
Surekha’s nomination has attracted attention beyond the political sphere. Kavitha has criticised the regional representation on the board but the government is justified in the fact that it is entitled to nominate members according to the temple administration and endowments laws.
The question of Surekha’s eligibility is separate from the political criticism surrounding her appointment. Being associated with Andhra Pradesh does not automatically mean that her appointment is invalid.
Kavitha targets Mega family.!
— Telugu360 (@Telugu360) August 27, 2026
How can Megastar Chiranjeevi’s wife Konidela Surekha become board member of Yadagirigutta Temple. How can Andhra person be on Telangana temple board?
A Revanth Reddy = Andhra Revanth Reddy pic.twitter.com/OQ3TWCLQK1
The relevant legal provisions and eligibility requirements would determine if a nomination is permissible.
The controversy also underscores the continuing sensitivity around Telangana’s regional identity. Since Telangana became a separate state, questions of regional representation and the influence of leaders and public figures from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh have been politically vital.
For the Congress government, the appointment could be seen as a choice based on the public standing and eligibility instead of regional identity.
For its political foes, however, it is an opportunity to ask whether important Telangana institutions are getting adequate representation from people with a direct connection to the state.
The dispute has attracted more attention as the constitution of the Yadagirigutta temple board has also been under legal scrutiny.
Questions have been raised before the Telangana High Court about appointments and the legal framework governing the temple administration. Any final determination on those issues will be made by the court.
Yadagirigutta remains a major focus of the Telangana government’s religious and tourism development plans.
With the temple getting large numbers of devotees, decisions in its management are likely to be under public and political scrutiny.
Kavitha’s comments have thus turned Surekha’s appointment into a central political debate about the Mega family, Revanth Reddy and regional representation.
But whether it will ultimately erupt into a larger conflict between the BRS and Congress remains to be seen.
