This story is from September 20, 2021

MLC wins Rs 19 lakh laddu at auction, gifts it to Andhra Pradesh CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy

The famous Balapur laddu was knocked down on Sunday for Rs 18.9 lakh, the highest-ever auction price, as an MLC from Rayalaseema and his Telangana business partner joined the bidding to gift the ‘prasadam’ to AP chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. The MLC, RV Ramesh Yadav, belongs to the YSRCP.
Balapur Ganpati laddu auction brings in Rs 18.9 lakh
The Panchamukha Mahaganpati from Khairatabad being immersed into the Hussainsagar in the city on Sunday. Thousands of devotees gathered to witness the immersion
HYDERABAD: The famous Balapur laddu was knocked down on Sunday for Rs 18.9 lakh, the highest-ever auction price, as an MLC from Rayalaseema and his Telangana business partner joined the bidding to gift the ‘prasadam’ to AP chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. The MLC, RV Ramesh Yadav, belongs to the YSRCP.
This is the first time that the Balapur laddu, which weighs 21kg, auctioned on the day of immersion of the idols of Lord Ganesh is being gifted to AP chief minister post-bifurcation of the state.

Balapur laddu gift for Jagan as AP MLC wins T auction

The move has surprised many a political pundit as it comes at a time when the relations between the two Telugu states are at the lowest over Krishna water dispute. It also gains significance as Jagan’s sister YS Sharmila has launched a new political party in Telangana and is actively touring the state. Interestingly, the joint successful bidder, Marri Shashank Reddy, is a native of Nadergul in Telangana.
Balapur laddu gift for Jagan as AP MLC wins T auction (1)

Also, this is the first time that a politician from Rayalaseema region of AP has participated in the laddu auction in the past 26 years. Jagan Mohan Reddy hails from the region. The laddu offered to Lord Ganesh is considered auspicious and the winner of the bid distributes it among close relatives for their well-being and prosperity.
Balapur laddu gift for Jagan as AP MLC wins T auction (2)

Ramesh Yadav and Shashank Reddy are partners in an education consultancy firm. The MLC will now take the laddu to Vijayawada to give it to Jagan.

With the MLC from Kadapa joining the fray this time, the bidding went on briskly and people watched with political interest over the outcome. Finally, the laddu fetched Rs 1.3 lakh more than that of the 2019 auction when it got Rs 17.6 lakh. There was no auction in 2020 due to pandemic and incidentally the laddu was presented to Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.
Jagan became the third chief minister to receive the Balapur laddu. It was also presented to TDP president and former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu in 2013 even as the agitation over separate Telangana was in full swing.
Around 15 people participated in the auction with the bid starting at 1,116. While many backed out after the bid touched Rs 10 lakh, the Rayalaseema leader and his business partner continued with their bid till no one challenged them.
Ramesh is from the BC (Yadav) community.
He is the first Yadav to become an MLC after K Ramaiah in 1962.
Ramesh Yadav told TOI that he had tried to take part in 2019 laddu auction, but could not due to various reasons.
“I was hopeful of bidding it in 2020 but there was no auction due to pandemic restrictions. It’s a tough competition and finally I have won it,” he said.
He said since Jagan had made him an MLC it was his privilege to gift the famous Balapur laddu to the latter.
Shashank Reddy said he was trying for an appointment of K Chandrasekhar Rao to show him the Balapur laddu and take his blessings.
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