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TTD rejects claims of bias toward Indapur Dairy and defends transparent procurement process.
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) chairman B R Naidu has dismissed political accusations of preferential treatment toward Indapur Dairy in the supply of ghee for temple offerings, clarifying that the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) remained the largest vendor, supplying roughly 62 % of TTD’s total ghee requirement through competitive tendering in 2024–25.
Naidu released detailed procurement figures showing that seven rounds of tenders were conducted under revised guidelines aimed at ensuring quality and transparency, involving major national dairies including KMF, Mother Dairy, Indapur Dairy, Sangam Dairy, Premier Agri Foods, Kolhapur Dairy, and Govind Milk. KMF won four tenders and supplied 50 lakh kg of ghee, while Indapur Dairy successfully secured contracts in two tenders with orders for 10 lakh kg of product.
The chairman rebutted allegations that Indapur Dairy only received contracts under the current Telugu Desam Party (TDP) rule, noting that the company participated in tendering nearly six times between 2019 and 2024 — including during the prior YSR Congress Party administration — and qualified for supply based on adherence to eligibility criteria.
Naidu further emphasised that ghee prices fluctuate with input costs and market trends, pointing out that the rates paid by TTD align with benchmarks set by the National Dairy Development Board, National Cooperative Dairy Federation of India (NCDFI), and Indian Dairy Association (IDA). He rejected claims of inflated pricing or irregular procurement practices, asserting that quality standards and competitive bidding drove decisions.
The clarification comes amid broader political friction in Andhra Pradesh, with opposition voices in the state assembly contesting TTD processes and pricing. Nonetheless, the TTD leadership maintains that the revised ghee procurement framework — including stringent quality checks and transparent tendering — reflects best practice in managing supplies for the temple’s prasadam offerings.
