Tirupati Ghee Row and Heritage Link: YSRCP Demands Answers from Chandrababu
12 Feb, 2026 13:31 IST|Sandeep Athreya
YSRCP Corners Chandrababu Over ₹278 vs ₹658 Tirupati Laddu Supply Row
Bhumana Slams Chandrababu for Doublespeak on Laddu Ghee Quality, Price
Chandrababu’s U-Turn on Ghee Pricing
The YSR Congress Party has launched a blistering attack on AP CM Chandrababu Naidu, accusing him of blatant double standards over the pricing and quality of ghee used in the preparation of the sacred Tirupati Laddu.
Addressing the media on Thursday, former TTD Chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy tore into Chandrababu’s recent claims that “quality ghee cannot be supplied for less than ₹300 per kg.” Calling the statement hypocritical, he pointed out that during Chandrababu’s earlier tenure, it was none other than his family-owned company, Heritage Foods, that supplied ghee to TTD at as low as ₹278 per kg.
The manufacturing arm of Heritage Foods, Indapur Foods and Dairy Products, reportedly supplied large quantities of ghee at prices ranging between ₹278 and ₹306 per kg during Chandrababu’s previous term. “If ₹278 per kg ghee was acceptable and considered ‘pure’ then, how can Chandrababu now claim that quality ghee cannot be procured below ₹300?” Bhumana questioned.
What has further fueled the controversy is the dramatic spike in prices after the NDA government returned to power. The same supplier has reportedly resumed the contract — but at an eye-popping ₹658 per kg. “How did the price jump from ₹278 to ₹658 unless there is a larger business deal at play?” he asked, demanding transparency.
According to Bhumana, the Heritage-linked unit, along with another manufacturing facility in Karnataka, handled a massive supply chain during Chandrababu’s tenure. Referring to details cited in a CBI chargesheet, he said over 40 lakh kilograms of ghee were supplied by the two units during that period.
“If the ghee supplied at ₹278 was pure and fit for the Lord then, why this sudden shift in narrative? And if it wasn’t pure, why was it accepted in such huge quantities?” he asked, accusing Chandrababu of shifting goalposts for political convenience.
He also demanded clarity on the recent bidding process, alleging that the accepted price was significantly lower than the quoted bid amount, raising further suspicion.
YSRCP has demanded that Chandrababu come clean on the pricing anomaly, alleged favoritism, and his contradictory statements. “The people deserve answers, not sermons,” Bhumana said, asserting that selective outrage cannot mask uncomfortable facts.
