Allegations of Coercing Religious Leaders
YSRCP leader and former TTD Chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy has launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, claiming that the CM is currently in a state of “total self-defense.” Addressing the media on February 10, 2026, Bhumana alleged that the state government is intimidating prominent religious figures to issue statements in support of the TDP’s narrative. Specifically, he claimed that officials like B.R. Naidu and Muddada Ravichandra were used to pressure Pedda Jeeyar Swamy into writing a letter, suggesting that Naidu’s “Red Book” governance has now extended its reach even to spiritual leaders and ancient monastic traditions.
SIT Report and “False Propaganda”
Bhumana criticized the Chief Minister for allegedly spreading misinformation regarding the Special Investigation Team (SIT) report on the Tirumala Laddu controversy. He pointed out that the SIT findings clearly stated that political leaders had no involvement in the ghee procurement issues. According to Bhumana, the report debunked the claims of “animal fat” being used, instead identifying a mixture of vegetable oils like palm oil. He accused the “Yellow Media” of attacking investigative agencies and trying to revive a false narrative because the actual report did not support the TDP’s original sensational claims made in 2024.
Politics Over Sanctity
Expressing distress over the current state of Andhra politics, Bhumana stated that spiritual figures are being crushed in Naidu’s “dark political games.” He challenged the Chief Minister to declare what he has actually contributed to the Hindu community rather than damaging the reputation of the Tirumala shrine for political mileage. Bhumana concluded by asserting that the public would see through these “diversionary tactics” and that the government’s attempts to use administrative pressure on TTD employees and priests to validate false claims would ultimately fail.
