Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu claimed that the Tirupati laddu, a sacred prasadam offering for Lord Venkateshwara Swamy (Balaji), was made using inferior ingredients and animal fat. The sacred Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati, managed by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), distributes the renowned Tirupati Laddu prasadam to lakhs of devotees daily.

During Jagan's term, Laddu had animal fat

Chief Minister stated during an NDA legislature party meeting, during the previous YSRCP administration that even the Tirumala laddu was prepared using low-quality ingredients, such as animal fat instead of ghee. Chandrababu Naidu claimed that the temple now uses only pure ghee and has undergone sanitization, resulting in better quality.

Irregularities in Tirumala will be probes; TDP Govt

In a statement to X, Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh criticized the Jagan Mohan Reddy administration for the problem. The temple of Lord Venkateswara Swamy in Tirumala is considered our holiest temple. He expressed surprise upon finding out that the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy government used animal fat, instead of ghee, in the Tirupati Prasadam. Lokesh accused the previous YSRCP administration of disregarding the religious beliefs of millions of devotees.

Meanwhile, Social Welfare Minister Dola Sree Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy said that a comprehensive inquiry will be conducted into irregularities in TTD. The minister told media persons that the Chief Minister repeated what the officials have already stated on the quality of ingredients used in making laddu, also known as Tirumala laddu.

CM's allegations to gain political mileage; YSRCP

YSRCP leader and Rajya Sabha member Y V Subba Reddy (TTD Board former Chairman) accused Chandrababu Naidu of harming the sacredness of Tirumala and the beliefs of millions of Hindus during his two terms as TTD chairman. CM’s remarks regarding the Tirumala prasadam are very harmful. Subba Reddy stated on X that no one would make those accusations. The ex-TTD chairman challenged the CM to take an oath with his family before the deity to restore devotees' faith and questioned if Naidu would do the same.

Senior YSRCP leader and former TTD Board Chairman B Karunakar Reddy also said Chandrababu Naidu levelled allegations on the preparation of famous Tirupati laddus only to derive political mileage. Karunakar Reddy, who twice served as the chairman of TTD, the official custodian of the world-renowned Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati, alleged that Chandrababu's claims that Tirupati laddus were laced with animal fat during YSRCP regime was aimed at politically targeting the opposition party and its chief and former CM Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.

TDP, YSRCP indulging in heinous politics; says YS Sharmila

Assailing the ruling TDP and opposition YSRCP for indulging in 'heinous politics' over the preparation of Tirupati laddus, Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Y S Sharmila demanded a CBI probe to ascertain whether animal fat was really used to make the sweet.