One thing that went unnoticed in the TDP hullabaloo during Chandrababu Naidu’s recent Delhi visit was that TDP MP from Guntur Galla Jayadev was absent. He was not there with Chandrababu and was nowhere to be seen. While the other two MPs – Rammohan Naidu and Kesineni Nani – were present, Galla was simply not there.

In fact, on every earlier occasion, Galla was a prominent fixture. He used to get the appointments fixed for Chandrababu. But this time around, Galla was conspicuous by his absence. Not just that. He was absent even during the 36-hour Deeksha of Chandrababu Naidu at Mangalagiri. Interestingly, the area where the protest was held comes under Guntur Lok Sabha constituency represented by Galla Jayadev.

Of late, Galla has been keeping a low profile. He has been silent ever since the YSRCP targeted his businesses. The YSRCP government cancelled the land allocation to the Amara Raja Batteries that Galla family owns. It also sent a closure notice to the unit alleging that it was polluting the villages. Cases were also booked against him and his family members on charges of land grabbing.

Some reliable sources revealed that Galla was contemplating quitting politics as business interests came first for him. He is planning to leave active politics behind and focus on his businesses.

Why has Guntur TDP MP Galla Jaidev suddenly fallen silent? Why is he not active in his constituency? Why is he not organising any programmes these days? Why is he not reacting to any happening? These are the questions that the TDP activists in Guntur Lok Sabha constituency are asking these days. There are also rumours that he is all set to take a sabbatical from politics.

Highly placed sources say that Galla has lost interest in Guntur. Sources say that he wants to contest from Chandragiri assembly constituency, which is his mother Galla Aruna’s borough. They say that he is interested in state politics and has no interest in national affairs. The sources say that in Modi’s regime, political lobbying is not possible and furthering business interests as an MP is not possible. Being an MP was both fashionable and beneficial earlier. But not anymore under Modi rule.

According to some political observers, Galla Jayadev wants to remain low key for some time in view of the attacks on his businesses by the ruling YSRCP. The Jagan government has already closed down his units in Chittoor district saying that they were causing pollution. To minimise the attacks and to protect his interest, Galla has fallen silent.

Interestingly, even Chandrababu Naidu is not talking about Galla Jay. He has neither criticised or backed Galla on the issue of attacks on his business interests. Meanwhile, some say that Galla Jay is planning to move away from politics and focus on his business interests. Let’s wait and see how things pan out.

AP CM and TDP National President N Chandrababu Naidu gave green signal for sitting MP Galla Jayadev to contest from Guntur MP seat for the second consecutive time. Educated in America and coming from an industrialists’ family, Jayadev has also got the backing of his brother-in-law and film hero Mahesh Babu. His services in criticising the Modi government in the Parliament are recognized by Chandrababu. In the past two days, review meetings were held on segments in Guntur district at the CM camp office at Undavalli. Naidu cleared the name of Jayadev and also those of Dhulipalla Narendra Kumar for Ponnur and Alapati Raja for Tenali assembly segments. Naidu recalled the effective fight given by Jayadev on behalf of the AP state over special status and projects in the Parliament.

The TDP leaders are in an upbeat mood as Naidu has cleared the names for the most important segments of Tenali and Ponnur. Both these segments are known as strongholds of TDP. Interestingly, this time Alapati Raja will face tough fight from YCP candidate and former assembly speaker Nadendla Manohar.
In Ponnur, Dhulipalla Narendras is going to test his luck in getting a double hat trick there in the coming election.