TTD Chairman Addresses Ghee Procurement Controversy Amid Political Tensions
In the midst of an escalating political confrontation between the TDP-led NDA alliance and the YSRCP concerning the supply of ghee by Maharashtra-based Indapur Dairy to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) trust, TTD chairman B R Naidu has stepped forward to provide clarity. He emphasized that the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) continues to be the largest ghee supplier for the trust, fulfilling a substantial 62% of its total requirements.
Dismissal of Allegations and Release of Procurement Data
B R Naidu firmly rejected the YSRCP's accusations that Indapur Dairy secures contracts exclusively when the TDP is in power in Andhra Pradesh. To support his statements, he publicly disclosed detailed ghee procurement data for the 2024–25 period. According to the TTD chief, this transparency initiative comes in response to widespread concerns from millions of Lord Venkateswara devotees worldwide regarding the declining quality of the sacred Tirupati laddu.
These quality issues were allegedly linked to the procurement of adulterated ghee during the previous YSRCP administration. In reaction, the newly established TTD trust board implemented a series of resolutions aimed at sourcing pure cow ghee from reputable dairies across India. This process is conducted with full transparency and strict adherence to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) specifications.
Revised Procurement Guidelines and Tender Process
Since the updated ghee procurement guidelines were enacted, the TTD has initiated seven rounds of tenders for ghee acquisition. Seven nationally recognized dairies participated in this competitive process: KMF, Mother Dairy, Indapur Dairy, Sangam Dairy, Premier Agri Foods, Kolhapur Dairy, and Govind Milk.
B R Naidu elaborated on the outcomes, noting that KMF secured four out of the seven tenders, originally committing to supply 60 lakh kilograms of ghee. However, the KMF management later encountered operational challenges and adjusted its commitment, agreeing to provide only 10 lakh kilograms out of a 20 lakh kilogram tender floated in October of the previous year. Overall, KMF delivered 50 lakh kilograms of ghee, which constitutes 62% of the total ghee procured by TTD between 2024 and 2025.
Clarification on Indapur Dairy's Role
Further addressing the controversy, B R Naidu clarified that Indapur Dairy qualified in merely two of the seven tenders issued by TTD, resulting in orders to supply 10 lakh kilograms of ghee. He dismissed allegations that Indapur Dairy's participation is tied to the TDP regime, revealing that the dairy actually took part in the tender process approximately six times between 2019 and 2024, during the YSRCP's tenure in power.
Response to Price Fluctuation Concerns
In addition to refuting claims of favoritism, B R Naidu also countered allegations of an abnormal increase in ghee prices procured by the Tirupati trust. He explained that ghee prices are subject to fluctuations based on various market parameters. The TTD chairman asserted that the rates at which the trust acquires ghee from national dairies align with the indicative prices set by the National Cooperative Dairy Federation of India (NCDFI) and the Indian Dairy Association (IDA), ensuring fair and standardized procurement practices.
