Day Before Yesterday:
“I received Srivari Kalyanam laddus from Tirumala yesterday. I accepted them with devotion, but they were very hard, overly sweet, lacking ghee, and had excess camphor, cardamom, and dry fruits. The taste was not good. It is our misfortune that such a wealthy deity’s prasadam lacks quality.”
– Social media post by film actress and BJP leader Madhavi Latha
Yesterday:
“It was claimed that the ghee used in Tirumala laddu preparation was adulterated with bathroom cleaning chemicals. Who has verified this? Such propaganda hurts the sentiments of crores of devotees. The way the Chandrababu government handled the Tirumala laddu issue is not appropriate. Any responsible leader, including BJP, would hold the same view. Chandrababu and Pawan Kalyan did not act as responsible leaders.”
– BJP leader and Vijayawada West MLA Sujana Chowdary in an interview
Today:
“On March 18, I visited Tirumala with my six-month-old baby. The darshan was divine and beautiful, but I was deeply disappointed with the laddu prasadam quality at Counter 13. The laddus were hard and had a white, web-like formation resembling fungus. They were from March 16 (3 PM–11 PM batch). Staff said it was sugar powder, but it was unclear. Even seva volunteers confirmed this. I wish I had my phone to capture photos. I request strict quality checks. I am a TDP supporter, but devotion is greater than any party or government.”
– Social media post by hardcore TDP worker Naveen Reddy
Amid growing criticism that the Chandrababu government is undermining TTD, Srivari prasadam, Hindu Dharma, and devotees’ faith, these recent developments related to Tirumala prasadam have intensified concerns.
Continuous sacrileges
Since the coalition government came to power, repeated attacks, sacrileges, and shocking incidents affecting Hindu Dharma have been reported. Particularly in Tirumala, the manner in which the deity is being dragged into politics and handled irresponsibly has drawn strong criticism from the public. Despite this, Chief Minister Chandrababu and his team have shown no change in approach.
Even supporters raising questions
Even strong supporters of TDP and the coalition are now openly exposing issues related to Tirumala laddu quality. Despite their political loyalty, they are unable to hide the facts any longer. The government and TTD Board claimed that ghee prices were increased to Rs. 650–Rs. 700 to ensure premium quality. However, issues like fungus-like formation on laddus and poor taste expose the reality. Questions are being raised: where is this premium quality ghee? Are these not clear signs of corruption and negligence? When even supporters are speaking out, it is evident that the government has failed to protect the sanctity of Tirumala prasadam.
No answers in Legislature
During the recent 16-day Assembly sessions, the Chandrababu government failed to answer questions raised by YSRCP MLCs regarding ghee supply to Tirumala. Questions were raised about links between Indapur Dairy and Chandrababu’s Heritage company. Queries regarding connections between Sangam Dairy and Vaishnavi Dairy were also left unanswered, with the government instead resorting to counter-attacks.
Rs. 200 Crore Ghee Tender Scam
Former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy revealed that documents related to ghee tenders indicate a scam of nearly Rs. 200 crore. He stated that ghee prices were deliberately increased from Rs. 351 per kg in August 2024 to Rs. 716 per kg by October 2025 within just one year. This means an increase of Rs. 365 per kg. He alleged that a cartel-like system was created to loot temple funds.
Price escalation details
Until August 2024, the ghee supply rate was Rs. 351 per kg. By January 31, 2025, it increased sharply to Rs. 513. By October 2025, it rose to Rs. 599 and further jumped to Rs. 716 within the same month. Such rapid escalation is unprecedented and points to large-scale irregularities. Despite creating controversy, the government is simultaneously involved in scams, raising questions about its integrity.
Irregularities in Tenders
Manipulation is also alleged in the ghee tender process. After Chandrababu became Chief Minister in June 2024, ghee tenders were finalised and supplied through tankers. Four tankers rejected earlier were later brought back under a different company name in August and September and used in laddu preparation. Subsequently, the issue was suppressed, and on September 24, 2024, Chandrababu raised allegations about laddu adulteration. This indicates that the irregularities occurred during his tenure. Rejected tankers were used, facts were concealed, and blame was shifted onto YSRCP. Attempts were also made to hide links between Heritage and Indapur Dairy, while denying connections between Sangam and Vaishnavi Dairy. All these irregularities point to systemic failures under the Chandrababu government.
