Tirumala 'laddu prasadam' for votes, YSRCP courts controversy

The ruling party in Thondavada panchayat under Chandragiri constituency of Chittoor district in Andhra Pradesh courted controversy by distributing Tirumala 'Laddu prasadam' to voters. It is learned that the party workers handed five laddus to families hailing from SC backgrounds and 10 to families from other communities.

Chittoor (Andhra Pradesh): Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) stoked controversy for allegedly distributing Tirumala laddu's along with voter slips in Thondavada Panchayat at Chittoor district in Andhra Pradesh.

"This is utter disrespect to the 'prasadam'," said Telugu Desam Party (TDP) general secretary Nara Lokesh.

Mallam Chandramohan Reddy, the husband of Deepika Reddy who is running for the village head's office, sent his supporters to the village to distribute the laddus to each household, appealing to the villagers to vote for his wife. The fact that the distribution of laddu 'prasadam' was done in a vehicle delivering rations has made the incident more controversial.

"Severe action should be taken on those who had moved thousands of laddus in a situation where getting even one laddu is a big thing for devotees," said Lokesh. TDP state president Achennaidu has requested the State Election Commission (SEC) to take cognisance of the incident.

'Laddus' were given to voters in Pakala, Mogarala, Upparapalli, Chandragiri, Thondavada, Thiruchanur and Mungilipattu. Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) gives only one laddu to each devotee for free and then charges Rs. 50 per extra laddu. Although there is no official cap on the number 'Laddus' a devotee can buy, it is virtually impossible to purchase the confection in large amount.

In Thiruchanur village, which has 22,000 voters, half the families are reported to have received large laddu and Vada. Vadas are capped at 2 per devotee in Tirumala.

The opposition has alleged that 11,000 laddus and vadas were distributed.

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