TD Accuses Bhumana Of Using TTD Budget As 2024 Election Fund

TIRUPATI: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) spokesperson and Andhra Pradesh Biodiversity Board chairman N. Vijay Kumar on Friday accused former Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) chairman and YSR Congress (YSRC) party senior leader Bhumana Karunakar Reddy of budget violations and misuse of devotees’ money during his tenure.

Addressing a press conference in Tirupati, he charged that after Karunakar Reddy became the chairman of the devasthanam in September 2023, TTD stopped publishing the board’s resolutions and details of sanctions made on the TTD website, undermining transparency.

Vijay Kumar alleged that within three months of taking over, the former TTD chairman sanctioned engineering contracts worth ₹1,233 crore in 2023–24 against the allocated budget of ₹300 crore. This had been done purely for political gains without the state government’s approval, he charged.

The TDP spokesperson alleged that Karunakar Reddy used temple funds for his son’s election campaign and demolished pilgrim amenities to issue fresh contracts and secure kickbacks. “This is neither dharma nor ethics,” Vijay Kumar remarked.

He questioned the proposal to divert one per cent of TTD revenue annually to Tirupati Municipal Corporation for sanitation, amounting to ₹120 crore. “Sanitation in Tirupati has always been the municipality’s responsibility. Using temple money under this pretext is nothing but a political cover-up,” he maintained.

Vijay Kumar observed that Karunakar Reddy continuing as both MLA and TTD chairman had been a clear conflict of interest. Pointing to the former chairman losing the 2024 assembly election, he said, “One cannot escape accountability before the people or before Lord Venkateswara Swamy. Those who misuse devotees’ offerings will have to face the judgement of both public and divine courts,” he added.