Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has accused the previous YSR Congress (YSRCP) government of compromising the quality of the famous Tirupati laddoo, served as 'prasad' at the Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirumala. Speaking at the NDA legislature party meeting in Amravati, Naidu alleged that substandard ingredients, including animal fat, were used in place of ghee.

Naidu claimed, “Even Tirumala laddoo was made with inferior ingredients... they used animal fat instead of pure ghee." He further stated that under the current administration, only pure ghee is being used, ensuring a higher quality and sanitisation of the temple's offerings.

Following Naidu’s statements, Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh also took aim at the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government, expressing his shock over the alleged use of animal fat in the sacred prasadam. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Lokesh wrote, “The Tirumala temple is our most revered site. It’s shocking that the previous government used animal fat in place of ghee in the Tirupati laddoo."

The YSR Congress Party strongly denied the accusations, calling them politically motivated. YSRCP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Subba Reddy said Naidu’s comments were "extremely malicious" and damaging to the faith of Hindus. He added that Naidu was willing to "stoop to any level for political gain" and challenged him to take an oath in front of the deity at Tirumala to prove his claims.

The debate continues to stir controversy, as both political leaders and devotees await further developments in the case.