A political slugfest over alleged “immoral conduct” by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Chairman B R Naidu has now snowballed into a full-blown media war, with fingers pointing not just at the opposition but at influential players within the Telugu media.
For the past two days, the YSR Congress Party has mounted an aggressive, no-holds-barred campaign against Naidu, circulating videos, explosive social media posts and even a purported letter allegedly written by a middle-aged woman leveling sensational charges against him.
While it is not uncommon for the YSRCP—ousted from power two years ago—to target the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the intensity and the nature of the material leaked have raised many eyebrows.
The TDP has been under sustained attack over the alleged adulteration of ghee used in the sacred Tirupati laddu during the previous regime.
Political observers say the offensive against Naidu appears calibrated to deflect attention and mount counter-pressure.
The circulation of the alleged letter along with its postal cover—reportedly bearing a TDP office stamp—has triggered speculation that the leak may have originated from within TDP circles themselves.
So, how did the opposition access internal party material unless someone close to the establishment facilitated it? This has given rise to suspicions of internal sabotage or factional rivalry.
A section of Naidu’s supporters believes the leak could be linked to media rivalry. One theory doing the rounds points towards Andhra Jyothy and its managing director Vemuri Radhakrishna.
The speculation stems from reported displeasure over the TTD chairman post going to Naidu, who owns TV5.
Another section of the media fraternity suspects a possible angle involving NTV chairman Narendra Chowdary, citing long-standing rivalry with Naidu—not just in the fiercely competitive television news market, but also in matters relating to the Jubilee Hills Cooperative Society.
Interestingly, NTV has maintained conspicuous silence over the controversy, despite the apparent opportunity to target a business rival. Sources describe this as “strategic restraint,” further fuelling speculation.
At this stage, the allegations remain unverified, and none of the parties named have publicly acknowledged involvement in the alleged leak.
As the controversy intensifies, the battle lines seem drawn—not just between parties, but between power centres operating behind the scenes.