What Did CM Chandrababu Naidu Say About Ashok Gajapathi Raju's Appointment as Goa Governor?

Amaravati, July 14 (NationPress) - The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, N. Chandrababu Naidu, has extended his heartfelt congratulations to the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader and former Union Minister, P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju, following his recent appointment as the Governor of Goa. Naidu expressed that this achievement brings immense pride to the people of Andhra Pradesh.

In a statement shared via the social media platform ‘X’, the TDP president conveyed his warm regards to the senior leader. He stated, “This is a moment of great pride for the people of our state. I sincerely thank the Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji, Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, and the Union Cabinet for bestowing upon him this honour.”

Wishing Ashok Gajapathi Raju a “successful and fulfilling tenure in this esteemed role”, Naidu emphasized the significance of this appointment.

Additionally, Human Resources Development and IT Minister, Nara Lokesh, also offered his congratulations to Ashok Gajapathi Raju Garu for his new role as Governor of Goa. He expressed gratitude towards President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this recognition. “I am confident that with his integrity, honesty, and utmost commitment to public service, Raju Garu will bring great dignity to the office of the Governor,” Lokesh posted.

Ashok, a member of the royal family of Vizianagaram, is recognized as one of the senior-most leaders within the TDP. At the age of 73, he serves on the TDP politburo, which is the party's highest decision-making body. He has been elected as an MLA six times on a TDP ticket from the Vizianagaram Assembly segment.

In 2014, he was elected from the Vizianagaram Lok Sabha constituency and appointed as the Civil Aviation Minister. However, he resigned in 2018 after the TDP exited the NDA government due to delays in granting special status to Andhra Pradesh.

Although Ashok faced defeat in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from the same constituency, the TDP chose not to field him in the last election. Instead, his daughter, Aditi Vijayalakshmi Gajapathi Raju, contested from the Vizianagaram Assembly segment and won decisively.

Ashok has represented the Vizianagaram Assembly seat for six terms, first elected as a candidate of the Janata Party. He has been with the TDP since its inception by actor-turned-politician N.T. Rama Rao in 1982.

During his political career, he served as a minister in the Chandrababu Naidu-led government in undivided Andhra Pradesh, managing key portfolios such as Finance, Revenue, and Legislative Affairs.