The sacred Tirumala temple has once again become the centre of a heated political confrontation in Andhra Pradesh, with the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) standing on opposing sides of a bitter controversy surrounding the temple’s Parakamani system, which oversees the counting of offerings made by devotees. The row has escalated into a political and spiritual storm, drawing strong reactions from leaders and devotees alike.
On Monday, Tirupati MP Maddila Gurumoorthy took the lead in defending his party, sharply criticising the TDP-led state government for allegedly manufacturing a crisis. He demanded both a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry and the appointment of a Judicial Commission headed by a sitting Supreme Court judge to investigate what he described as the “Tirumala Parakamani controversy.” According to Gurumoorthy, the charges levelled by the opposition were nothing but politically motivated allegations designed to discredit the YSRCP.
In formal letters to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, Gurumoorthy strongly condemned the accusations, labelling them as baseless and calling the entire narrative a “cheap political vendetta.” He stressed that attempts to tarnish the reputation of Tirumala, one of India’s most sacred pilgrimage sites, were not just politically irresponsible but also profoundly distressing to millions of devotees across the globe who hold the temple in the highest reverence.
The controversy deepened after BJP leader and Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) member Bhanu Prakash Reddy alleged that over ₹100 crore had been looted from temple donation boxes during the tenure of the YSRCP government. These allegations were promptly rejected by YSRCP, which described them as reckless attempts by Chandrababu Naidu and Nara Lokesh to exploit Tirumala’s spiritual significance for political gains. Gurumoorthy insisted that Tirumala, as the “spiritual heart of India,” must remain above political squabbles and charged that the TDP’s claims lacked credibility, evidence, and sincerity.
Underscoring his defence, the MP highlighted reforms already undertaken by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams. He pointed to the ₹23 crore state-of-the-art Parakamani facility inaugurated in 2022, equipped with 24/7 CCTV surveillance, as proof of transparency and security. He further referred to a 2023 theft incident, which had been fully investigated and legally resolved, with the accused later donating ₹14 crore back to the TTD. “We acted, we reformed, but the TDP is only performing for political optics,” Gurumoorthy declared.
Seeking impartiality, Gurumoorthy urged that only a central-level investigation could put an end to politically fuelled allegations. “Only a central probe can clean this mess. Let faith win over falsehood,” he appealed. His request extended to the Supreme Court, asking it to establish a Judicial Commission to comprehensively examine the controversy. Such a move, he argued, would ensure transparency, restore the shaken confidence of devotees, and safeguard the sanctity of Lord Venkateswara’s temple from being sullied by fabricated political narratives.
Gurumoorthy’s concluding remarks were both sharp and emotional. He challenged the opposition to produce real evidence if their claims were genuine and warned them to stop maligning devotees’ faith if not. He accused the TDP of exploiting temple traditions for political mileage, warning that such actions risk tearing apart the communal harmony of the state. “Faith isn’t your PR strategy. Tirumala is sacred. Back off,” the YSRCP MP thundered, making it clear that for his party, the issue transcended politics and struck at the core of spiritual and cultural integrity.
