YSRCP Raises Allegations Over TTD Land Swap in Tirupati

Speedy Summary

• Policy Issue: YSR Congress PartyS Chittoor district president and former TTD Trust board Chairman, Bhumana Karunakar Reddy, has raised objections against the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams’ (TTD) recently introduced land swap policy.
• Main Allegation: Mr. Reddy called the policy a potential scam and accused current TTD Chairman B.R. Naidu and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of supporting it without clarity.
• Specific Land Exchange Details:

– A government order (G.O.M.S No. 21 dated August 7, 2025) permits the Andhra Pradesh Tourism authority (APTA), Vijayawada, to exchange 24.68 acres of its land in Peruru village with 25 acres of TTD land in Tirupati urban mandal.
– Allegations suggest this move benefits private entity Oberoi Group by involving ₹1,500 crore worth of temple land.

• Ancient Importance: Mr. Reddy claimed this is an unprecedented move to use temple lands for commercial purposes and vowed strong opposition from the YSRCP.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The controversy surrounding Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams’ (TTD) new land swap policy raises significant questions about governance, transparency, and religious trust assets stewardship in India.Temple lands are historically considered sacred by millions of devotees; thus, their management evokes heightened public sentiment.

If allegations hold true that commercial interests are prioritized over religious sanctity or proper consultation processes were absent from the decision-making framework-it could erode faith in institutional practices governing temples like TTD that oversee vast valuable assets.

Beyond immediate political implications for both YSRCP and ruling officials accused here lies a broader necessity: reevaluating how India safeguards its cultural heritage while allowing room for modern growth when legitimate interest aligns with collective benefit.

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