YSR Congress supremo Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has leveled explosive charges against Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, accusing him of exploiting the pious Tirumala Temple for electoral advantages. In a Wednesday post from Amaravati, Reddy decried Naidu’s leadership as faithless and corrupt in managing the world-famous shrine of Lord Venkateswara.
Millions revere Tirumala as the living god’s earthly home; its administration demands purity of heart and action. Reddy insists only those with flawless character and devotion should helm it, a standard Naidu flagrantly violates.
Recent events, including allegations against TTD head B.R. Naidu, underscore the malaise. A woman’s pre-election letter to Naidu detailed her ruin at the chairman’s hands, including mistreatment of vulnerable women. Ignoring this, Naidu elevated him, inviting compromise to the temple’s dignity.
Reddy minced no words: No genuine bhakt would endorse such appointments. This, coupled with past lapses like recycling subpar ghee into laddus—flagged in CBI probes—demonstrates Naidu’s cavalier attitude toward sacred rituals.
Procurement irregularities amplify concerns. Ghee rates held steady for a decade at affordable levels, but under Naidu’s watch, they’ve doubled to Rs 658/kg, benefiting ally-linked suppliers amid false quality smears and manufactured rows.
Reddy portrays these as symptoms of deeper rot: absent devotion, integrity, and commitment. As Andhra’s politics simmers, this temple tussle could redefine voter sentiments, compelling a reckoning on who truly safeguards spiritual legacies.