Andhra Pradesh has lost a golden chance only because of Jagan Mohan Reddy’s vendetta politics. Amara Raja Group, born and built in Tirupati, has now gone to Telangana to set up India’s biggest Lithium-Ion Giga Battery factory with an investment of ₹9,500 crore. This plant will give jobs to 4,500 people which is getting ready to open very soon. It could have been Tirupati’s pride, but Jagan’s politics drove it away.
Back then, Jagan’s government used the Pollution Control Board to issue closure notices to Amara Raja’s units in Chittoor. Government Advisor Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy openly said the company was causing pollution and “the government is of the view that the company should go.” He even said, “What they are manufacturing is not batteries, but pollution.” These were the words used to justify harassment of one of the state’s biggest companies in spite of the company being the most employee friendly and legacy beyond 30 years that employs nearly 15000 people.
This was not about pollution, it was about politics. Amara Raja’s chief, Jayadev Galla, a TDP MP and a hardline critic of Jagan. Targeting him was more important to Jagan than protecting jobs. The High Court later struck down the closure orders, but by then the trust was gone. Amara Raja understood Andhra Pradesh was no longer safe for investment under Jagan.
Meanwhile, KTR in Telangana welcomed the company with open arms, with a clear EV and energy policy. As a result, Telangana now hosts India’s largest Giga battery factory, while Andhra Pradesh has lost both the factory and prestige of having the largest giga factory that could have led to getting more such industries for investment in Andhra Pradesh.
This is the cost of vendetta politics, youth lost jobs, Tirupati lost pride, and Andhra lost its future. Telangana gained because it values development. Andhra lost because Jagan values revenge and loves to be a hypocrite with abysmal decisions where he was unable to hold LG accountable for Vizag Gas Leak but the companies like Amaraja which are known for their sustainable practices are facing the brunt just because of the political affiliation.
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