BJP leader Annamalai has called for the immediate cancellation of the recent auction conducted by the Bhavani Arulmigu Sangameshwarar Temple administration for temporary shop allotments, alleging large-scale irregularities and misuse of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department under the DMK government.
In a statement posted on his X handle, Annamalai said that the temple administration in Erode district had conducted a public tender for a license worth ₹16 lakh to set up temporary shops and conduct business for 60 days, from 14 November 2025 to 12 January 2026, on a 3,150-square-foot space near the temple’s western wall.
He pointed out that one of the key conditions of the auction stated that the successful bidder should personally operate under the license and that subletting would lead to cancellation of the bid. However, Annamalai alleged that the Bhavani DMK city secretary, who won the auction, had rented out over 34 shops in the area at rates between ₹80,000 and ₹1 lakh per shop.
According to him, this subletting practice has caused a loss of over ₹20 lakh in potential income to the temple. He claimed that the auction process was manipulated to secure the ₹16 lakh license, while the actual market value of the space was much higher, resulting in profits of around ₹34 lakh allegedly being diverted for DMK members.
Annamalai said, adding that such financial misuse would ultimately burden devotees.
He further accused the DMK government of turning the HR&CE Department into a “money-making arm” for the party instead of using it for temple development. Criticising the Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, Annamalai said the minister had failed to address irregularities in his department and was instead focused on internal party matters.
Annamalai demanded that the Bhavani temple shop auction be canceled and re-conducted in accordance with the original tender conditions to prevent further misuse of temple resources.
In the X post, he wrote, “In Erode District, near the western compound wall of the Arulmigu Sangameswarar Temple in Bhavani, a public auction/tender has been issued by the temple administration for the right to set up temporary shops and conduct business on an identified area of 3,150 square feet, for 60 days from 14.11.2025 to 12.01.2026, with a reserve price exceeding Rs. 16 lakhs. Among the conditions of this auction, the third condition specifies that the successful bidder must personally enjoy the rights, and if sublet, the auction will be canceled. In this context, DMK member and Bhavani city secretary who secured this auction have sublet more than 34 shops here for between Rs. 80,000 and Rs. 1 lakh per shop. As a result, the temple has incurred a revenue loss of over Rs. 20 lakhs. By auctioning it off for a mere Rs. 16 lakhs and violating the rules, this auction has been conducted solely for DMK members to earn approximately Rs. 34 lakhs. This loot will ultimately be burdened onto the devotees visiting the temple. Under DMK rule, the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department is being used entirely for DMK members to make money, and not for temple development. The HR&CE Minister has no time to address the corruption in his department. His attention is only on the competition over who is the biggest in the party. In accordance with the auction condition that the auction will be canceled if sublet, I urge the DMK government to immediately cancel the Bhavani Sangameswarar Temple auction and reissue it, and to immediately stop turning the HR&CE Department into a department plundered by DMK members.”
ஈரோடு மாவட்டம், பவானி அருள்மிகு சங்கமேஸ்வரர் திருக்கோயில் மேற்கு மதில்சுவர் அருகே, திருக்கோயில் நிர்வாகத்தால் அடையாளப்படுத்தப்பட்ட 3,150 சதுரடியில், வரும் 14.11.2025 முதல் 12.01.2026 வரை 60 நாட்கள், தற்காலிக கடைகளை அமைத்து வியாபாரம் செய்து கொள்ளும் உரிமத்திற்கான பொது… pic.twitter.com/y6NNBLZBK7
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) November 7, 2025
(Source: Tamil Janam)
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