Uddhav Thackeray's closest aide joins board of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams

Milind Narvekar

The government of Andhra Pradesh (AP) on Thursday issued a notification about 24 board members of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) which includes the name of Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's personal assistant, Milind Narvekar. CM Thackeray personally called AP Chief Minister YS Jagmohan Reddy and recommended Narvekar's name. Narvekar also holds the position of secretary in the Shiv Sena.

As per rules, the names of board members from all states have to be recommended by the chief ministers of the states. Narvekar will represent Maharashtra in the board of TTD, one of the holiest places in India that attracts more than 36 million worshippers every day from across the world. Narvekar's recommendation by the chief minister is seen as his further rise in the Shiv Sena and Maharashtra politics. He is also known as one of the closest aides of the Thackeray family and a trouble shooter in any political crisis.

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"I am thankful to both the chief ministers for giving me this opportunity to represent Maharashtra as a member of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams," Narvekar told mid-day. Earlier, the AP government appointed Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy's uncle, Y V Subba Reddy, as TTD Chairman for a second consecutive term.