Industrialist and former Telugu Desam Party’s Lok Sabha member Galla Jayadev, who has virtually retired from politics, is planning to be back in active politics with the party returning to power in Andhra Pradesh under the leadership of chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu.
According to party sources, Naidu is likely to nominate him to Rajya Sabha to represent the party voice in the Upper House, where the TDP has no representation. A decision is expected to be announced soon.
Jayadev, the Chairperson and CEO of Amara Raja Energy and Mobility Ltd, quit politics in February this year to focus more on his family and businesses.
While announcing his decision to stay away from politics, Jayadev attributed to his decision to intimidation from the government agencies.
Jayadev, who was the TDP parliamentary party leader till recently, declared that he would not henceforth contest polls.
He opted out of contest in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and Naidu was forced to replace him with another rich businessman Pemmasani Chandrasekhar in Guntur.
Now that the TDP is back in power, Jayadev decided to start a second innings in politics, as it is essential to sustain his business interests.
At one stage, there was a talk that Naidu would make him the AP government’s special representative in New Delhi with cabinet rank.
But after the resignation of two YSR Congress party members — Mopidevi Venkata Ramana and Beeda Mastan Rao from the party as well as their Rajya Sabha seats, it has given a chance to Jayadev to test his fortunes.
Sources said Naidu would nominate Jayadev to replace Venkata Ramana, while Mastan Rao might be given another chance.
Naidu’s apparent intention is to counter Jagan Mohan Reddy’s influence over the BJP with Jayadev, an aggressive orator.
