Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has made a sensational allegation, claiming that animal fat was used in the preparation of the revered Tirupati laddoos during the tenure of the previous government led by the YSR Congress. This accusation has sparked a political storm, with the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led party dismissing the claims as “malicious and baseless.”
Naidu’s Allegation
Speaking at a National Democratic Alliance (NDA) legislative party meeting on Wednesday, Chandrababu Naidu, whose Telugu Desam Party (TDP) recently came to power in Andhra Pradesh through an alliance with the Jana Sena and the BJP, made a striking claim regarding the famous ‘prasad’ offered at the Sri Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati. He accused the previous YSR Congress government of compromising the purity of the sacred laddoo by using animal fat instead of ghee during their five-year term.
Naidu stated, “In the past five years, YSR Congress party leaders have tarnished the sanctity of Tirumala. They compromised on the quality of ‘Annadanam’ (free meals) and contaminated the sacred Tirumala laddoo by using animal fat instead of pure ghee. This has caused widespread concern. We are now ensuring that only pure ghee is used to preserve the sanctity of the TTD (Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams).”
YSR Congress Responds
Senior YSR Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP, YV Subba Reddy, strongly condemned Naidu’s remarks, calling them deeply harmful to the faith of millions of devotees. Reddy, a former Chairman of the TTD, slammed Naidu for what he described as “extremely malicious” comments aimed at tarnishing the reputation of the temple.
“Chandrababu Naidu has severely damaged the sanctity of Tirumala and the faith of crores of Hindus. His comments about the Tirumala prasad are extremely malicious. No responsible person would speak such words or make such accusations,” Reddy wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Reddy further challenged Naidu to back up his claims with an oath before God. “It has been proven again that Chandrababu Naidu will stoop to any level for political gain. To strengthen the faith of the devotees, I, along with my family, am ready to take an oath before the almighty regarding the Tirumala ‘prasad’. Is Chandrababu Naidu willing to do the same with his family?” he asked.
Political Impact
Naidu’s comments have fueled an intense political row between the TDP and the YSR Congress, with the sacred Tirupati laddoo—an iconic symbol of faith and devotion—at the center of the controversy. The temple’s reputation and the trust of millions of devotees have become key points of contention as both parties seek to rally their support bases ahead of upcoming elections.
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which manages the temple, has yet to issue a formal statement addressing Naidu’s allegations.