Ajay Rai Calls for Religious Oversight of Ram Temple Trust

Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee President Ajay Rai has demanded an overhaul of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, calling for a religious leader appointed via the Shankaracharya to oversee operations. Rai’s statement follows allegations of donation mismanagement, sparking fresh debate over who should hold authority at the site.

Editorial·September 2, 2026·reads: 1,965

Ajay Rai Calls for Religious Oversight of Ram Temple Trust

The demand emerged as Trust members convened at Shri Maniramdas Chhawni in Ayodhya to finalize the appointment of the temple’s first Chief Executive Officer. The meeting included key figures such as Treasurer Swami Govind Dev Giri Ji Maharaj and Mahants Dinendra Das and Kamal Nayan Das. The selection process for the CEO post has been extensive, drawing over 5,000 applicants.

A specialized search committee, composed of retired Lieutenant General Vishnu Kant Chaturvedi, former scientist Suresh Haware, and former Justice Pramod Kohli, submitted its final report on the candidates just one day prior. This report was reviewed by a panel including Ayodhya District Magistrate Shashank Tripathi and Acting General Secretary Krishna Mohan. Rai maintains that beyond the technical selection of a CEO, the core management requires individuals deeply connected to the faith to ensure integrity.