Jayadev Galla, also known as Galla Jayadev and Jay Galla, is an Indian politician and businessman. 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 is a member of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and leader of the TDP parliamentary party. He is the vice chairman and managing director of Amara Raja Group of companies, an Indian multinational conglomerate company.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Jayadev Galla was born on Thursday, 24 March 1966 (age 57 years; as of 2023) in Diguvamagham, Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh, India. His zodiac sign is Aries. At a young age, he moved to the USA with his parents and lived there for more than 20 years. He holds a diploma from Westmont High School in Westmont, Illinois, United States. He did BA in political science and economics at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, United States; he was a member of the ‘Lambda Chi Alpha’ fraternity in college.
A childhood image of Jayadev Galla with his grandfather and his sister
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 11″
Hair Colour: Salt & Pepper (half bald)
Eye Colour: Black
Family
He belongs to a Hindu family in Diguvamagham, Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Parents & Siblings
His father, Galla Ramachandra Naidu, is an Indian industrialist and founder of the Amara Raja Group of companies. His mother, Galla Aruna Kumari, is an Indian politician. He has a sister named Ramadevi Gourineni, who is a neurologist and sleep medicine specialist.
Jayadev Galla with his father
Jayadev Galla with his mother and sister
Wife & Children
On 26 June 1991, he got married to Padmavathi Ghattamaneni, a film producer, director, and politician. The couple has two sons named Ashok Galla, an actor, and Siddharth Galla, a politician.
Jayadev Galla with his wife and sons
Other Relatives
His maternal grandfather named Paturi Rajagopala Naidu was an Indian freedom fighter and parliamentarian; he died on 21 October 1997.
Paturi Rajagopala Naidu
His father-in-law, Ghattamaneni Siva Rama Krishna, was a renowned South Indian actor, who died on 15 November 2022 in Hyderabad after suffering a cardiac arrest.
Jayadev Galla’s father-in-law
Her mother-in-law, Vijaya Nirmala, was a South Indian actor, director, and producer. She passed away after suffering a cardiac arrest on 26 June 2019.
Vijaya Nirmala with her husband, Krishna Ghattamaneni
His brother-in-law Ramesh Babu was an Indian actor and producer, who passed away on 8 January 2022 after suffering from a prolonged liver infection.
Mahesh Babu
His brother-in-law, Naresh Babu, is an actor, politician, and social activist.
Naresh Babu
He is the brother-in-law of the famous Indian actor Mahesh Babu.
Mahesh Babu
His sister-in-law, Manjula Ghattamaneni, is an Indian actress and producer. She is married to the Indian actor Sanjay Swaroop.
Manjula Ghattamaneni with her husband, Sanjay Swaroop
His sister-in-law, Priyadarshini Ghattamaneni, is the wife of Indian actor Sudheer Babu.
Priyadarshini Ghattamaneni with her husband, Sudheer Babu
Address
3-1-93/4, 6th Lane, Brindavan Gardens, Guntur-522006, Andhra Pradesh
Signature/Autograph
Career
International sales executive
After completing his studies, he worked at GNB Battery Technologies in the United States as an international sales executive.
Businessman
After coming back to India from the USA in 1992, he joined his father’s company Amara Raja Group of companies. He handled the sales and service network of Amara Raja. In the same year, he, along with his father, initiated a joint venture between Amara Raja group and Johnson Controls International, a US-based conglomerate and initiated the battery division of Amara Raja group named Amara Raja Batteries Limited (ARBL). Amara Raja Batteries Limited is one of the most popular lead acid battery manufacturing companies in India and is known for its battery brand ‘Amaron.’ It produces batteries for both industrial and automotive applications. In 2003, he became 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.
Jayadev Galla, vice chairman and managing director of Amara Raja Group of companies, with his father, founder and chairman of Amara Raja Group of companies
In 2021, ARBL’s board decided to invest in green technologies, including lithium-ion batteries, EV chargers, energy storage systems, and advanced home energy solutions to capitalise on fast-evolving trends in the energy and mobility sectors. In an interview, while talking about this investment, Jayadev Galla 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.”
Politician
Jayadev Galla began his political journey by working as a political manager for his mother. In 2012, he wanted to contest an assembly by-election on a ticket of the Indian National Congress from the Tirupati constituency, but the leadership rejected him. In 2014, he joined Telugu Desam Party (TDP).
Telugu Desam Party (TDP) logo
In May 2014, he won the 16th Lok Sabha elections with a big margin from the Guntur constituency in Andhra Pradesh. In May 2019, he was re-elected in the Lok Sabha elections from the Guntur constituency and won the elections.
The nomination paper of Jayadev Galla for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections
He has participated in more than 100 debates and has spoken about multiple issues of public interest in the Parliament of India.
Jayadev Galla giving a speech in Lok Sabha in 2020
Positions Held
- From 1 September 2014 to 31 August 2017, he was a member of the standing committee on commerce.
- From 1 September 2014 to 25 May 2019, he was a member of the consultative committee, ministry of power and ministry of new and renewable energy, the committee on private members bills and resolutions, and the tobacco board, ministry of commerce and industry.
- From 11 May 2016 to 25 May 2019, he was a member of the joint committee on the enforcement of security interest and recovery of debt laws and miscellaneous provision (amendment) bills.
- From 1 September 2017 to 25 May 2019, he was a member of the standing committee on defence.
- From 13 September 2019 to 12 September 2020, he was a member of the standing committee on internal affairs.
- On 9 October 2019, he became a member of the rules committee.
- On 13 September 2020, he became a member of the standing committee on human resource development and a member of the consultative committee of the ministry of housing and urban affairs.
- On 13 September 2021, he became a member of the standing committee on communications and information technology.
Controversies
Accused of Snatching Property
In 2016, Guntupalli Padmaja met N. Chandrababu Naidu, the then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, to file a complaint against Jayadev Galla for grasping her house at Brundavan Gardens in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh for Rs 3 crores, which was actually worth Rs 9 crores. She told N. Chandrababu that she took a loan of Rs 2.30 crores by giving her house to the bank as security in 2013. In 2014, Jayadev Galla rented her house for elections and later, started using the building as his residence-cum-office. she failed to pay the EMIs of the loan because of her poor financial condition. Allegedly, Jayadev pressurized the bank to put the building up for auction to recover the loan, since, she could not pay the EMIs and told the bank officials to set the base auction price at only Rs 2.80 crores. She requested the Debt Recovery Tribunal to direct Andhra Bank to give her more time to clear her loan, but allegedly, on Jayadev Galla’s orders, the bank proceeded with the auction and Jayadev bought the house at Rs 3.09 crores. Jayadev Galla said that he took part in the auction and being the highest bidder, he bought the house following all the rules. He called the accusations framed by her baseless.
Arrested for Protesting against Tri-State Bill
In 2020, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, introduced the Andhra Pradesh Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of All Regions Bill, which aimed at establishing three capitals of Andhra Pradesh; making Visakhapatnam the executive capital, Amaravati the legislative capital, and Kurnool the judicial of the state. The tri-capital system of the government was not acceptable to farmers and opposition political parties. A widespread protest was done by hundreds of farmers and women from the state’s Amaravati region. 17 members of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) including Jayadev Galla, protested against the bill and supported the farmers. He took to Twitter and said,
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.”
The current Govt has made it a practice of disregarding court’s orders. Now Police have also joined them and continue to impose #Section144, even after #SupremeCourt‘s ruling that it cannot be used to curb legitimate dissent & deny #people the right to protest. #SaveAmaravathi pic.twitter.com/LN8Co3aKGU
— Jay Galla (@JayGalla) January 20, 2020
During a rally to oppose the tri-capital bill of the government, Jayadev Galla was detained by police in Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh on 20 January 2020. On 21 January 2020, he was arrested and charged with non-bailable cases; he was jailed till 31 January 2020. In an interview, he talked about how the police treated him and 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.”
It’s no more “To #protect & serve”. It’s “To provoke & strike”. The #Police seem to have lost all sense of #Humanity, resorting to excesses, with complete disregard for the #RuleOfLaw. I rue this day when the police raised their sticks to strike those whom they swore to protect. pic.twitter.com/iBw3QWldy9
— Jay Galla (@JayGalla) January 20, 2020
Later, the government offered sops including doubling of pension to 5000 rupees and increasing tenancy tenure from 10 to 15 years to pacify the demands of the protesting farmers.
Land Encroachment Matter
In 2021, Gopi Krishna, a farmer of Diguvamagam village of Tavanampalli, filed a complaint against Jayadev Galla, Galla Aruna Kumari, Galla Ramchandra Naidu, Padmavathi Galla, and others for grabbing his farmland at Diguvamagam village in Tavanampalle Mandal and using it for constructing buildings for the Rajanna trust. Two months later, he moved the case to a local court. The local court ordered the police to book a case against Jayadev Galla, his family members, and some others.
Awards
- Won the Best CEO Award in the auto ancillary category by Business Today in 2015
Jayadev Galla receiving Business Today Best CEO Award in 2015
- Won Award for the Most Promising Company of the Year Award by CNBC at the IBLA (Indian Business Leadership Awards) in 2017
Bike Collection
He has a Royal Enfield (AP07 CM 0070) (2015).
Car Collection
He has a Toyota Kirloskar: Innova (AP07 CB 0070) (2014), Mahindra Tractor (AP03 L 7991) (1995), TAFE: Tractor (AP03 V 265) (2003), and Tata Ace (AP07 TH 9777) (2017).
Jayadev Galla standing near his car
Assets & Properties
Movable Assets
- Bank Deposits: Rs. 48,43,20,700
- Bonds & Company Shares: Rs. 74,41,76,169
- LIC/Other Insurance Policies: Rs. 1,51,285
- Personal Loans: Rs. 18,20,90,630
- Motor Vehicles: Rs. 33,76,912
Immovable Assets
- Agricultural Land: Rs. 1,62,06,880
- Non-Agricultural Land: Rs. 13,23,62,196
- Commercial Buildings: Rs. 68,14,97,254
- Residential Buildings: Rs. 42,05,08,124
Note: The given estimates of movable and immovable assets are according to the year 2019. It excludes the assets owned by his wife and dependents (minor).
Net Worth
As of 2019, Jayadev Galla’s net worth is estimated to be Rs. 246 crores.
Note: It excludes the net worth of his wife and dependents (minors).
Facts/Trivia
- Reportedly, he is considered to be one of the wealthiest politicians in India.
- Jayadev Galla was the richest candidate in Andhra Pradesh to take part in the Lok Sabha elections in 2014.
- In 2018, Jayadev Galla gave a 16-minute speech in Lok Sabha, even when he was given 13 minutes by the Lok Sabha Speaker. He represented the party’s views on the no-trust motion against the NDA government. He criticized the central for not granting special status to Andhra Pradesh and failing to fulfil its promises according to 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).”
- On 12 February 2019, in one of his Lok Sabha debates titled ‘Need to provide Scheduled Caste status to Dalit Christians,’ he requested the government of India to grant SC status to Dalits, who converted their religion to Christianity and 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.”
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn