Archive · 31 Aug 2026
BJP Warns Kakinada Temple Authorities Over Idol Shifting
A century-old Lord Sitarama temple in Kakinada is planned for reconstruction.
The Endowments Department had said the main idols of Lord Rama would not be moved.
BJP leaders alleged that the temple trust shifted the Anjaneyaswami idol without telling devotees.
They visited the temple to ask why this happened.
They also asked whether the trust board had formally approved the decision.
BJP leaders said the chairman told them that no meeting had taken place.
Temple authorities said the work followed Hindu traditions.
A temple protection group asked officials to take action against the authorities.
The BJP’s Kakinada unit objected to the unannounced shifting of an Anjaneyaswami idol at a century-old temple.
The Endowments Department had planned a stone reconstruction without moving or touching the main idols of Lord Rama.
BJP leaders questioned trust board chairman P. Viswanatham about the decision and requested the board’s meeting minutes.
The chairman reportedly said no trust board meeting had been held on the matter.
Temple authorities said the work was conducted according to Hindu traditions, while a protection group demanded official action.
- Who
- The Bharatiya Janata Party’s Kakinada unit, temple trust authorities, the Endowments Department, and Temples Protection Samithi representatives.
- What
- BJP leaders warned temple authorities against construction or idol shifting without informing devotees and objected to the Anjaneyaswami idol’s relocation.
- When
- The idol was shifted recently, according to the report; no specific date was provided.
- Where
- The century-old Lord Sitarama temple on Main Road in Kakinada.
- Why
- The temple is to be reconstructed, but BJP leaders said devotees and Hindu associations should be consulted before development decisions or idol movements.
BJP and Temple Protection Advocates
Temple Authorities
Consultation with devotees
BJP and Temple Protection Advocates
BJP leaders said devotees and Hindu associations should be informed and consulted before construction or idol-shifting decisions.
Temple Authorities
Temple authorities said the work had been carried out according to Hindu traditions.
Approval for shifting the idol
BJP and Temple Protection Advocates
BJP leaders questioned whether the trust board had passed a resolution and requested the minutes book; they said the chairman acknowledged that no meeting had been held.
Temple Authorities
The authorities proceeded with the work, stating that it followed Hindu traditions; the report does not identify a formal trust board resolution.
Accountability
BJP and Temple Protection Advocates
Temples Protection Samithi convener D. N. Ramesh demanded action against the Kakinada deputy commissioner and called for an IAS officer to be appointed as endowments commissioner.
Temple Authorities
The report does not provide a detailed response from the deputy commissioner or commissioner to those demands.
- Temple
- Century-old Lord Sitarama temple on Main Road, Kakinada
- Planned work
- Reconstruction with a stone structure
- Original plan
- The main idols of Lord Rama were not to be shifted or touched
- Disputed action
- The Lord Anjaneyaswami idol was reportedly shifted without informing devotees
- BJP delegation
- Included Bikkina Visweswara Rao, Yargadda Ramkumar, Duvvuri Subrahmanyam, and Kundala Sai Kumar
- Trust board response
- Chairman P. Viswanatham reportedly said no meeting had been held on the matter
- Authorities’ position
- The work was carried out according to Hindu traditions