The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) has demanded the removal of TTD Chairman B.R. Naidu following some video clips and photographs purportedly showing him in bad light going viral on social media.
“An individual facing such moral allegations is unfit to hold a sacred and responsible position associated with the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD),” senior party leader and former TTD Chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy alleged while addressing the media on Sunday.
“Mr. B.R. Naidu should voluntarily step down to protect the sanctity of Tirumala. Alternatively, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu should remove him from office,” the YSRCP leader demanded.
Mr. Karunakar Reddy dismissed the allegation that the videos and images were “deepfakes,” stating that such claims could not be accepted without a thorough investigation.
Criminal proceedings must be initiated to establish the truth. Instead of addressing the issue, the Chairman was attempting to blame the YSRCP for circulation of the content. Attributing them to Artificial Intelligence without conclusive proof was untenable, he observed.
In the past, even before the AI era, individuals occupying high constitutional offices had stepped down when confronted with similar controversies, he said. During the YSRCP term, then Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy had removed actor Prithvi from his position, he reminded.
Published – March 01, 2026 07:59 pm IST
