Pawan Kalyan-Ponnam Prabhakar row puts Rs 35 crore Kondagattu temple project on hold

A war of words between Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and Telangana Minister Ponnam Prabhakar has reportedly stalled a Rs 35 crore TTD-funded development project at Kondagattu temple, leaving priests and devotees concerned over the delay.

Jagtial: Recent controversial remarks by Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and subsequent reaction of BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar to his statement have cast a shadow on a much-needed development project funded by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) on the premises of the Sri Anjaneya Swamy Devasthanam at Kondagattu. The project was taken up at an estimated cost of Rs 35 crore.

In 2025, the TTD decided to construct a 100-room guest house and a 2,000-seat hall on the premises of Kondagattu Anjaneyaswamy temple for the convenience of devotees after priests and local public representatives had requested the facility in the past. A piece of land was identified in survey number 362/1 near Ghat Road at the temple town for constructing the guest house and hall.

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In October, TTD engineering officials visited the shrine and inspected the land. Pawan Kalyan laid the foundation for the project after visiting the temple and performing special prayers on January 3, delighting devotees.

In June, Pawan Kalyan sparked a controversy while addressing mediapersons over the denial of permission for a Janasena Party meeting in Hyderabad. He asserted that Telangana was not anyone’s Jagir (inherited fiefdom). Prabhakar strongly condemned Pawan Kalyan’s remarks and demanded an unconditional apology from the Deputy Chief Minister.

The controversy has apparently led to the stalling of the developmental project, worrying priests and devotees. The temple authorities were about to invite tenders to commence the work. However, Chief Minister’s Office officials reportedly instructed the temple officials to temporarily stop the work following the row, hindering the project.

The temple priests urged the government to restart the project by initiating the tendering process and releasing the funds. They reasoned that devotees would be able to stay in the guest house at an affordable price once the facility becomes a reality. They said devotees were now forced to depend on private lodges due to the lack of sufficient guest houses on the premises of the temple.

Meanwhile, the administration of the temple has come to suffer with officials facing corruption charges being posted there. A senior officer, who was arrested while accepting a bribe, was transferred and posted at the shrine recently, triggering dissent among the devotees.