Govt whip, two-time TRS MLA from the Achampet Assembly constituency Guvvala Balaraj, in a freewheeling interview with Naveena Ghanate of The Pioneer, speaks about his childhood when he was cossetted despite being the son of migrant labourers, early resolve to be an MLA, accent on the process of continuous learning as a lawmaker and public policy expert, and battling odds to safeguard democracy that resulted in the infamous MLA poaching case
Son of a migrant labourer
My background is very humble. My parents are labourers. My father Guvvala Ramulu and my mother Bakkamma are healthy, active, and happy. When I was a small kid, my parents had migrated from Wanaparthy to Hyderabad. They used to migrate to other states also on work and Palamuru is known for supplying migrant labour. My father never allowed me to stay with them
because the entire ambience in their workplace never had vistas or prospects for growth. But my father had a vision and confidence in me. That was the reason he always used to keep me in nice, good places. I am grateful to my parents particularly because they never made me or to tried to make me a labourer. My father wanted me to be in a top position. To them, it translated to becoming say a government employee.
Karate Black Belt
Although I hail from the Polkepad village of Gopalpet mandal, I spent my entire childhood in Wanaparthy. I did my schooling in Wanaparthy. I was in a social welfare hostel. I have two younger brothers and two younger sisters and one elder sister. I was never into student politics. I was never into any kind of
agitation except the Telangana movement. Generally, classmates never assist a classmate. But I used to get all kinds of support from my classmates, and they used to help me out in all aspects, not just in studies. And that was because I had a passion to take everyone along with me. I was quite naughty and aggressive during my schooling days. I won eight gold medals in karate. I was a district player for kho kho. I was then like an athlete without regular practice. I used to run like athletes simply. I was an all-rounder as a student and even now.
Political plunge after uncle’s death
My father’s younger brother was killed by my neighbour due to a small reason. At that time, I was four years old. My parents had migrated, but they came back for the funeral. During that time, my father’s younger sister forced my dad to leave me behind at Wanaparthy town. She took care of me in Wanaparthy town, where I studied from first standard to third standard. From 4 th standard I was put in a social welfare hostel and my entire studies till graduation continued in social welfare institutions. I dreamt in my childhood, and announced when I was in 7th grade that I will become an MLA. My uncle’s death had left an impact on me. According to hearsay, people who had killed my father’s brother were brought out from jail by my village sarpanch. People used to discuss a lot about that incident. People did not know about the processes and procedure of obtaining bail, but the credit in this case went to that sarpanch. I understood that political power is mastery and ultimate power. Then and there I decided that I should have such power to do good things, but not to shield culprits. I picked CEC. I just wanted to become an MLA. But I read about many prominent leaders. If you take anyone’s name, they used to have a background in law. That was the reason I opted for Law and joined PRR College.
Contractor during graduation
My father was a labourer. With a small team of labourers, he used to take up work involving manual labour on contract basis. At that time, machinery had not been introduced. It was field work, mainly construction labour, including excavation work, and that required a steady labour supply. He used to have a team of labourers. Then slowly, other people started doing such works with the help of equipment. My father was very unhappy because he did not have the equipment. I bought the equipment. I introduced machinery in field labour and then I became a contractor. This happened when I was in the second year of my graduation, with the first year being spent learning the tricks of the trade. I went to college from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Then I sincerely used to go to the field for work. I used to support my father. I used to get 100% profits. Even today I do not see any potential in any other kind of business. That is the reason people still say: “Guvvala Balaraju turned soil into gold”.
Gave up law practice to support family
I went to court for 1.5 to 2 years and practiced, including in civil courts and the High Court. If I were to continue in law practice, then I definitely would have been in a good position. But I had come from a humble background.
Earlier, my entire family’s entire circle had been working under me. When I left the field, they resorted to migration again. And they were going to work under some other people. That hurt me and so I left my law practice and resumed my business as a contractor seriously. The greatness of my parents is that they never forced me to support them at any time. They always left me to my own devices.
Wanted to be MLA so joined BRS
To be honest, I was not in favour of the Telangana movement. Initially, I did not know what Telangana agitation was about. All I wanted to be is an MLA. I found a lot of great qualities in KCR (Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao). Before joining politics, I made a comparative study of political leaders. I found a lot of dedication in KCR. He has a vision. In 2007, on October 16 th , my political journey started. I joined TRS (now BRS). I am very hard working and down-to-earth. KCR did not pick me. Because of my passion, I met KCR and shared my vision with him. He accepted and advised me to organise a public meeting. Wanaparthy is a sentimental, lucky place for me. My entire studies and my political entry took place there. I had money to mobilise people and provide them everything they needed. I mobilised 10,000 people in no time. KCR was surprised with my organising skills.
Lost as MP
I contested for an MP seat in 2009. There are there are two Lok Sabha seats in my district. KCR contested from the Mahabubnagar seat and I from the Nagarkurnool seat. I lost the election. Even though I had lost I felt happy because at short notice, I could contest – no mean task for a common man. If you see my name was announced as an MLA. All of a sudden, in two or three days, in my place Ramulu’s name was declared for the MLA seat in 2009. I kept quiet for two days. After three days, all of a sudden called KCR me up and said: “Go, address the media; I am announcing your name as MP”. I did not comment anything against the party. I did not feel bad about it because there was a compulsion for the party to take everyone along with the party to achieve.
Family supportive
In 2007 February, I got married to Amala. After the marriage, within six months, I jumped into politics. My wife is a homemaker. Now she is also very active, but she is very passionate to support me. She started a trust, GBR
Charitable Trust. She does not want to join politics. I was lucky in that I had parents’ support and in-laws’ support before getting married. They support me a lot even today. They stay with me. When I am with my two boys, Hridhank and Hrithik, I behave like a small kid. I enjoy my time with my kids. They have a lot of belief in me. I am a very friendly father. My family was really worried during the Poachgate case. But I had made them very strong from the time I started my political career. I told everyone in the family: ‘You should not depend on me much because I am dedicated to society, dedicated to service, and dedicated to politics’. In that way, I have been tuning them.
Achampet Lift is a big thing
After joining TRS, I came to know the importance of the Telangana movement. At that time, a lot of youth were committing suicide and that made me sad. I was ready to give up my life, but I did not want to leave politics. I went on to become an MLA in 2014 and now third time I will be contesting. I felt happy and my desire was fulfilled when I became MLA for the first time. I am the luckiest man. I could fortunately achieve my dream. Getting the Aachampet Lift Irrigation Scheme to my constituency was an achievement. That project gives irrigation water to every inch of my Achampet agriculture field. So, I got it — what you call tender processes – going. In 2-3 days, the tenders will be opened. Once KCR lays the foundation for that project, my entire responsibility will be fulfilled.
Beating MLA
Actually, sometimes situations compel everyone to make some mistakes. I accept that it was a mistake on my part to beat an MLA. He tried to push me back and in the melee I hit him in the face, which led to a free-for-all. Beating MLA is not an easy thing, but it was unexpected thing. Because of his attack, I got offended and I raised my hand. Without anybody’s demand, I always apologize to people for that mistake.
Poachgate
I was among the four who were offered money to join BJP in the Shamshabad Poachgate case. I believe that the entire state knows what I am: I am a weapon to the party. In difficult times, I always try to protect the interests of the party and that too is in the interests of people. I always try to safeguard democracy. As a responsible representative, as a responsible soldier of the
party, I could not tolerate it when somebody else called me, trying to poach me. They were trying to offer me something, but I refused and thereafter I did not keep quiet. I wanted to send them behind bars. I felt it was a great opportunity to prove myself. I went ahead to protect democracy. Earlier, 7-8 governments had collapsed due to BJP’s ways. They approached us through various channels. They were trying to poach us. We fixed up everything and kept the government informed. We informed the police and made police personnel catch them.
Water from rocks
Whenever KCR introduces me to someone, he describes me as a young and dynamic leader. “Banda paina neelu puttinchindu. Achampet, Mahabubnagar area did not get attracted to Telangana movement quickly. He was born somewhere in Wanaparthy, working Hyderabad, despite being first generation politician, Achampet, which is dry, alone without alliance he had a calibre to win”. Even now he introduces me like that. Now he has a lot of faith in me and confidence in me because I am a workaholic. Mostly, they simply advise me to leave the aggression. I am very aggressive. It is there in my nature. I am happy to continue as an ML A. If I get an opportunity to serve in an upgraded position, I will be happy. Even otherwise, there is no problem. Once KCR’s desires are fulfilled, that will be enough for me.
Reduced atrocity cases in Achampet
I have never used the community card. When I became MLA for the first time, the Reddy community held a programme and at that meeting somebody was raising issues. Atrocity cases were being filed against them. I stepped in to stop the practice. If you see atrocity cases in my constituency, you will be surprised at the figures after I became an MLA. I stopped controversies. I managed to convince both parties and resolve the issue. But I never allow tribal, Scheduled Caste people to file cases against people belonging to the forward castes. If they do that, then unnecessary rivalry will be there for life and their lives will be spoiled. I can probably say that that is a great change in my constituency after I became an MLA.
Want to keep learning
Nobody can imagine that I have this kind of attitude, this kind of thought process. But after becoming an MLA, I did my LLM, I did my PhD. I joined ISB. I am doing an advanced management programme in public policy. I had a passion to become an MLA. But I did not know that MLA should have these
qualities that policymakers should have this kind of knowledge. After becoming an MLA, I understood the importance of the policy making process. If you see my leader, BRS working president KTR, he was in the US. After joining TRS, he came back to India, and was active in the Telangana statehood movement. After becoming Minister, he has risen so much that he can manage anything and do justice to any role even that of CM. Because of passion, he learned many things with available resources, and I too have an opportunity. I admire Dr B R Ambedkar a lot. He had 16 doctorates. Until my last breath, I will keep doing something in the education field. I want to become a great academic as well.
Quick bytes:
Favourite food: Non veg
Favourite colour: Pink
Favourite holiday destination: The Maldives
Bad habits: I never keep quiet. I react quickly
Hobbies: Playing cricket, playing badminton.
Movies: Baby
Favourite actor: These days Allu Arjun. He is not fair enough to
look like a hero, but he’s very hard working.
Fitness regime: Now I play badminton every day two hours,
morning 5 to 7.
Fav quotation: The sense of duty is important than the sense of
beauty.
Favourite politician: KCR
