VVIPs and Netas flock Tirumala temple on Vaikunta Ekadasi eve

TIRUPATI: There was an unprecedented VVIPs rush at the world renowned Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple at Tirumala as Netas and VIPs flocked the hill temple on the auspicious Vaikunta Ekadasi festival eve on Saturday.
Though the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams authorities announced that VVIP darshan will be strictly restricted to protocol VIPs on the Vaikunta Ekadasi day, the sheer number of VVIPs who thronged the hill shrine along with their families and friends on the Vaikunta Ekadasi eve, was simply overwhelming and beyond the control of the Tirupati trust.
The VIPs rush was such that the VIP car parking area in front of the Rambagicha guesthouse near the Tirumala temple was completely jam-packed and so much cramped for space that VVIP convoy vehicles had to be parked in the outside roads which stretched for nearly 2 kms.
Former Chief justice of India NV Ramana, SC Judges Justice Suryakant, Prashant Kumar Mishra, Hima Kohli, SL Bhatti and several other High court judges from various states worshipped at the Tirumala temple in the early hours on Saturday.
Karnataka Governor Tawar Chand Gehlot, actor Rajendra Prasad, film producer Bandla Ganesh, were also in the VVIP list.
State ministers Ambati Rambabu, Gudivada Amarnath, Chelluboina Venugopala Krishna, Ushasri Charan, Karumuri Venkata Nageswara Rao, Gummanuru Jayaram, Pinepi Viswaroop, Merugu Nagarjuna, RK Roja, Sidiri Appala Raju also visited the hill temple on Saturday.
Several MPs including rebel YSRCP MP Raghurama Krishnam Raju, Tirupati MP Dr M Gurumurthy, Rajya sabha MPs Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy, CM Ramesh and scores of ruling party as well as Telugu Desam party MLAs and MLCs also worshipped at the Tirumala temple on the Vaikunta Ekadasi eve.
Speaking to reporters amidst the VIPs rush, TTD chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy said the Sarva darshan for the common devotees was commenced at 5.15 am, about 45 minutes ahead of the scheduled time.
He added that the Tirupati trust has made arrangements to facilitate the highly venerated Vaikunta Dwara darshan to nearly 8 lakh devotees during the 10-day Vaikunta Ekadasi festival period.