Ashok Gajapathi Raju Appointed Goa Governor, Naidu Hails Honour as Pride for Andhra Pradesh

TDP leaders celebrate appointment of senior leader and Vizianagaram royal scion to top constitutional post

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has extended his heartfelt congratulations to Telugu Desam Party (TDP) veteran and former Union Minister P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju on being appointed as the new Governor of Goa. Calling it a “moment of great pride for the people of Andhra Pradesh,” Naidu expressed gratitude to President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the Union Cabinet for conferring the honour.

In a post on social media platform ‘X’, the TDP president stated, “This is a proud moment for our state. I thank the Hon’ble President, Prime Minister, and the Cabinet for recognizing Raju Garu’s long-standing public service.” He wished him a successful and fulfilling tenure in his gubernatorial role.

Minister for Human Resource Development and IT, Nara Lokesh, also joined in the celebrations, expressing confidence that Ashok Gajapathi Raju would bring dignity and purpose to the role. “With his honesty, integrity and commitment to public welfare, Raju Garu will serve with distinction,” Lokesh said in his message.

Ashok Gajapathi Raju, 73, is a stalwart of Andhra politics and a senior member of the TDP politburo, the party’s apex decision-making body. He hails from the royal family of Vizianagaram and has a rich political legacy. He was first elected as an MLA on a Janata Party ticket before joining the TDP in 1982, soon after its formation by N.T. Rama Rao. Raju has been elected six times to the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly from the Vizianagaram constituency.

In 2014, he was elected to the Lok Sabha and served as Union Civil Aviation Minister in the Modi Cabinet. However, he stepped down in 2018 when the TDP withdrew from the NDA over the delay in granting special status to Andhra Pradesh.

Though he lost the 2019 Lok Sabha election, his political legacy continues through his daughter Aditi Vijayalakshmi Gajapathi Raju, who recently won the Vizianagaram Assembly seat with a massive mandate.

Raju had also served as a Cabinet Minister in the undivided Andhra Pradesh government, holding key portfolios such as Finance, Revenue, and Legislative Affairs.

His appointment as Governor is being seen as a tribute to his decades-long contribution to public service and governance.