Ashok Gajapathi Raju
Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju | |
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![]() Raju in 2015 | |
29th Union Minister of Civil Aviation | |
In office 26 May 2014 – 9 March 2018 | |
Prime Minister | Narendra Modi |
Preceded by | Ajit Singh |
Succeeded by | Suresh Prabhu |
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | |
In office 16 May 2014 – 23 May 2019 | |
Preceded by | Botcha Jhansi Lakshmi |
Succeeded by | Bellana Chandra Sekhar |
Constituency | Vizianagaram |
Minister for Finance, Commercial Tax, Excise, Legislative Affairs, Planning and Revenue Government of Andhra Pradesh | |
In office 1 September 1999 – 14 May 2004 | |
Governor |
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Chief Minister | N. Chandrababu Naidu |
Preceded by | N. Chandrababu Naidu |
Succeeded by | Konathala Ramakrishna |
Minister of Legislative Affairs Government of Andhra Pradesh | |
In office 12 December 1994 – 1 September 1995 | |
Governor | Krishan Kant |
Chief Minister | N. T. Rama Rao |
Minister of Excise Government of Andhra Pradesh | |
In office 1985–1989 | |
Chief Minister | N. T. Rama Rao |
Member of Legislative Assembly, Andhra Pradesh | |
In office 2009–2014 | |
Preceded by | Kolagatla Veerabhadra Swamy |
Succeeded by | Meesala Geetha |
Constituency | Vizianagaram |
In office 1978–2004 | |
Preceded by | Appannadora Appasani |
Succeeded by | Kolagatla Veerabhadra Swamy |
Constituency | Vizianagaram |
Personal details | |
Born | (1951-06-26) 26 June 1951 (age 73) Madras, Madras State, India (present-day Chennai, Tamil Nadu) |
Political party | Telugu Desam Party |
Residence | Vizianagaram |
Alma mater | Hyderabad Public School |
Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju (born 26 June 1951) is an Indian politician and the former Union Minister for Civil Aviation in the Narendra Modi Government. A scion of royal family of Vizayanagram princely state, he is the younger son of the last Maharaja of Vizianagram.[1][2] He was a member of Andhra Pradesh State legislature for over twenty five years and was a Minister in the Govt. of A.P., for thirteen years holding the portfolios of Commercial Tax, Excise, Legislative affairs, Finance, Planning and Revenue.[3]
Personal life
Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju comes from the Pusapati royal family of the Vizianagaram estate. He is the son of Maharaja Pusapati Vijayarama Gajapathi Raju, the last Maharaja of Vizianagram. His family is known for its philanthropy through its temples that include the famous Simhachalam temple and the Maharaja Alak Narayana Society for Arts and Sciences which runs a number of education institutions. He was educated at Scindia School Gwalior, Hyderabad Public School and V.S. Krishna College, Visakhapatnam.[4] His father Pusapati Vijayarama Gajapati Raju and his brother Pusapati Ananda Gajapathi Raju were also Indian parliamentarians and ministers in the state government.[5][6] He is a former President of Andhra Cricket Association. His efforts resulted in the establishment of several centres for imparting training in several sports at many places including Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram.[3] He is from royal Pusapati family of Andhra Pradesh and is 11th Custodian of his family.[7] He married Suneela in the year 1974 and has 2 daughters.[8] He is a strongman of his family and also involves in activities besides Politics.[9]
Political career
He won the Vizianagaram Vidhan Sabha constituency for the first time as Janata Party candidate in 1978. He joined the Telugu Desam Party when it was formed in 1982 and won the state assembly elections of 1983, 1985, 1989, 1994, 1999 and 2009. He won the 2014 Indian general election to the 16th Lok Sabha from Vizianagaram.[10] He served Andhra Pradesh as a Cabinet Minister for Excise, Commercial Taxes, Finance, Revenue and Legislative Affairs in State Government. He is a Politburo member in the Telugu Desam Party. He was the Union minister for Civil Aviation in the National Democratic Alliance cabinet. He resigned on 8 March 2018 over a dispute with central government to provide special status to Andhra Pradesh.[11]
Other works
He took an active part in the struggle for the formation of a new district viz. Vizianagaram. His interest to improve education in the district led to the establishment of several governmental and non-governmental educational institutions. He served as Chairman of The Maharaja Alak Narayana Society of Arts and Science (MANSAS) which is running twelve educational institutions in the district. As a Minister, he was associated with several developmental activities. He is keenly interested in the field of public health and the conservation of water and electricity. In pursuance of this ideal, he launched housing, drinking water and health schemes. He has traveled abroad to study town planning and to implement it suitably in Andhra Pradesh.[3]
References
- ^ Analysis, Daily News & (26 May 2014). "Ashok Gajapathi Raju: The man with the "Royal Touch"". dna. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
- ^ "VIZIANAGRAM". iinet.net.au. Archived from the original on 26 October 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
- ^ a b c "Honourable Minister | Ministry of Civil Aviation". www.civilaviation.gov.in. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
- ^ BS Reporter (26 May 2014). "Ashok Gajapathi Raju". Business Standard India. Business Standard. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
- ^ "P Ashok Gajapathi Raju | The Kshatriyas Association of North America". Thekshatriyas.org. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
- ^ "Aviation minister shuns privileges, stands in queue, takes bus to aircraft". Archived from the original on 4 August 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
- ^ "Royal House | A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ROYAL HOUSE OF VIZIANAGARAM". mansasedu.org. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
- ^ "Members : Lok Sabha". 164.100.47.194. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
- ^ "Ashok Gehlot Biography - About family, political life, awards won, history". Elections in India. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
- ^ "Constituencywise-All Candidates". Eciresults.nic.in. 17 May 2014. Archived from the original on 19 May 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
- ^ Nair, Sobhana K. (8 March 2018). "TDP Ministers Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Y.S. Chowdary resign from Union Cabinet". The Hindu. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
Lok Sabha | ||
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Preceded by | Member of Parliament for Vizianagaram 2014 – Present | Succeeded by Incumbent |
Political offices | ||
Preceded by Ajit Singh | Minister of Civil Aviation 26 May 2014 – 8 March 2018 | Succeeded by |