Following the Supreme Court of India’s rebuke of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu over his public comments on the Tirupati ‘animal fat‘ Laddu controversy, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan undertook a noteworthy pilgrimage to the Tirumala Temple.
Joined by his daughter, Polena Anjani Konidela, Pawan Kalyan’s visit concluded his 11-day penance, undertaken to atone for the alleged wrongdoings of the previous YSRCP regime at Tirumala.
Pawan Kalyan Faces Difficulty on the Stairs of Tirupati Temple
Videos circulating online show Pawan Kalyan and his team making their way up the challenging ascent of over 3,500 steps to the sacred temple. Kalyan appeared to struggle during the climb, visibly breathless and drenched in sweat.
As a team member fanned him to provide relief, concerns about Pawan Kalyan‘s health arose among his fans, especially given his reported asthma and back problems.
Pawan Kalyan’s Family Visit to Tirupati Temple
ALSO READ: The Drama Surrounding the “It Ends With Us” Press Tour
Accompanying Pawan Kalyan on this pilgrimage was his younger daughter, Polena Anjani Konidela, from his third marriage to Anna Lezhneva. Polena is an Overseas Citizen of India.
Jana Sena, the political party led by Kalyan, released images of Polena signing the required forms for darshan at the temple. The party tweeted, “Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister, Sri PawanKalyan’s younger daughter, Polena Anjani Konidela, has submitted a declaration for darshan of Tirumala Sri Venkateswara Swamy. She signed the declaration forms provided by TTD (Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams) officials. As Polena Anjani is a minor, her father, Sri Pawan Kalyan garu, also signed the documents.”
Context of the Tirupati Laddu Controversy: The Visit
Pawan Kalyan’s visit follows the Supreme Court’s remarks on September 30, which criticized Chief Minister Naidu for his management of allegations regarding the presence of animal fat in the famous Tirupati laddus.
The court challenged Naidu’s choice to disclose the investigation, with Justice K V Viswanathan stating, “You received the report in July. On September 18, you went public, claiming you ordered an investigation. The report clearly indicates that this is not the ghee that was used. Unless you are certain, how could you present that to the public?”
Justice Viswanathan further remarked, “When someone presents a report like this, doesn’t prudence suggest that you seek a second opinion? Firstly, there is no evidence that this ghee was used, and there is no second opinion.” Justice BR Gavai shared similar concerns, highlighting the sensitivity of the issue for devotees: “If you have ordered the investigation, what was the need to go public? This concerns the sentiments of millions of devotees.”
