Jayadev Galla

Some Lesser Known Facts About Jayadev Galla

• Jayadev Galla is the vice chairman and managing director of Amara Raja Group of companies, an Indian multinational conglomerate company. He is a member of the 16th and 17th Lok Sabha of India and represents Lok Sabha from the Guntur constituency in Andhra Pradesh, India.

• He moved to the USA for his studies at a young age and lived there for around 22 years.

  

• When he was studying at the University of Illinois, he became a member of the ‘Lambda Chi Alpha’ fraternity in college.

• After completing his studies, he worked as an international sales executive at GNB Battery Technologies in the United States.

• In 1992, he returned to India from the United States and began to manage the sales and service network of his father’s company Amara Raja. In 1992, he and his father started a joint venture between Amara Raja group and Johnson Controls International, a US-based conglomerate to initiate the battery division of Amara Raja group named Amara Raja Batteries Limited (ARBL).

• Amaron, the battery brand of Amara Raja Batteries Limited, is one of the most popular lead acid battery manufacturing companies in India. It manufactures batteries for both industrial and automotive applications.

• In 2003, he was appointed as the managing director of Amara Raja Batteries Limited, and later, he became the vice chairman of ARBL. In August 2013, he became the vice chairman of the Amara Raja Group of Companies.

  

• In 2021, board members of ARBL decided to expand their business and invest in green technologies. They decided to set up a new “Energy SBU” (strategic business unit) incorporating lithium-ion batteries, energy storage systems, and EV chargers to capitalise on fast-evolving trends in the energy and mobility sectors. In an interview, he talked about this investment and said,
  

  After a careful review of the global business opportunities, the company board has decided to future-proof our business by repositioning the firm as an energy and mobility player. The board believes that the company has to invest in a portfolio of businesses to maintain its technological and business leadership.” ^[7]Moneycontrol

• Before he started his own political career, he helped his mother by working as a political manager for his mother.

• In 2012, he became an aspirant to contest an assembly by-election on a ticket of the Indian National Congress from the Tirupati constituency, but the party did not give him the ticket. ^[8]Bihariprabha

• According to sources, he is one of the richest politicians in India.

• In 2014, he was the wealthiest candidate in Andhra Pradesh to contest the Lok Sabha elections.

• Jayadev Galla has given more than 100 speeches in the Parliament of India about multiple issues of public interest.

  

• In 2018, Jayadev Galla’s speech on the no-trust motion against the NDA government became popular when he was allotted 13 minutes for the speech by the Lok Sabha Speaker, but gave a 16-minute speech in Lok Sabha. In his speech, he criticized the central government for not giving special status to the people of Andhra Pradesh and failing to fulfil its promises that were made under the AP Reorganisation Act. In his speech, he demanded an explanation from then Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said,
  

  It is not a war between BJP and TDP. It’s a dharma yudh. Today we are witnessing a war between promise and morality. The BJP president himself has decided to wage a war against the TDP. Uncertainty still continues in Andhra Pradesh and this government has put more challenges before us. The no-confidence motion was moved because of: Lack of trust, priority, and an unbiased approach towards Andhra Pradesh. you are singing a different tune, which the people of Andhra Pradesh are keenly observing. They would give a befitting reply in the upcoming polls. If the people of Andhra are cheated, the BJP will be also decimated in the state like the Congress. Mr PM, it’s not a threat, it’s a Shraap (curse).” ^[9]India Today

• On 12 February 2019, he gave a parliamentary speech on the topic ‘Need to provide Scheduled Caste status to Dalit Christians’ in which he made a request to the government of India for granting SC status to Dalits, who converted their religion to Christianity and had been fighting for SC status since 1950. In his speech, he said,
  

  Dalits who converted into Christianity have been fighting since 1950 when a Presidential Order absolved SC status to Dalits who have converted into a religion other than Hinduism. But, Dalits who have converted into other religions like Sikhism and Buddhism have been given SC status in 1956 and 1990 respectively through Constitution amendment and since then they have been enjoying the benefits at par with SCs. But, conspicuously. Government of India is not extending the same status to Dalits who have converted into Christians. I request Government of India to immediately amend Constitution and grant SC status to Dalits who converted to Christianity and other religions.” ^[10]Lok Sabha

• In 2020, he was arrested for protesting against the Tri-State bill. YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, introduced the Andhra Pradesh Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of All Regions Bill 2020, which proposed to make Visakhapatnam the executive capital, Amaravati the legislative capital, and Kurnool the judicial of Andhra Pradesh. This bill was not acceptable to the opposition political parties and many farmers. Hundreds of farmers and women from the Amaravati region broke out a widespread protest and 17 members of TDP including Jayadev Galla joined that protest. Jayadev Galla took to Twitter to criticise the ruling YSR Congress and urged Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy to back out of his plan and tweeted,
  

  I’m fighting for the future generations of Andhraites who will be burdened by the economic cost of running 3 capitals… for the Amaravati farmers who will be ruined for expecting the Government to meet their commitments.” ^[11]NDTV

  On 20 January 2022, Jayadev Galla was detained by the police during the protest in Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh. On 21 January 2020, he was arrested and charged with non-bailable cases; he was jailed till 31 January 2020. ^[12]NDTV In an interview, he talked about how the police manhandled him and dragged him, he said,

  I went to the Assembly along with farmers to protest the decision of the State Government to move the Capital out of Amaravati. The police not only stopped me from going towards the Assembly, but punched me and abused me. The wounds and bruises are still on my shoulders.” ^[13]The Hindu