Latest news with #PusapatiAshokGajapathiRaju
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Delighted to be in Goa, says Raju after becoming state's 22nd governor
Panaji: Former civil aviation minister Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju, a seasoned TDP leader, was sworn in as the 22nd governor of Goa on Saturday. Raju said that he would work with the people of the state to make India second to none in the world. Raju was administered the oath of office by the Bombay high court chief justice Alok Aradhe at a ceremony at Raj Bhavan. The ceremony was attended by chief minister Pramod Sawant, leader of opposition Yuri Alemao, Union minister of state Shripad Naik, Rajya Sabha MP Sadanand Shet Tanavade, cabinet ministers, MLAs, and others. After the swearing-in ceremony, Raju said, 'I am delighted to be in Goa. I am delighted to swear by the Constitution of India to serve the people of the country and Goans in particular. We all work as a team. I am delighted to be associated with Goans. I don't know the local language, though, but this is my first assignment in the state.' Raju added, 'In political structure, I was a seven-time legislator of Andhra Pradesh before it was bifurcated into two states. I had a short stint in Parliament and in and out as minister in govt and in opposition.' He also said, 'I got enriched particularly with this experience, and I hope to get further enriched by the experiences of the lovely people. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why This $30 Non-Invasive Glucose Monitor Is Flying Off the Shelves ZAKDAVI Undo I am looking forward to working for you, working with you rather, 'for you' is mind terminology, because if people don't work with govt, our democracy will be in peril, and we don't want that kind of situation. We want everyone to work unitedly. When we unite, we are second to none in the world. My appeal to people is to let us work and make India second to none in the world.' Raju replaced P S Sreedharan Pillai, who held the gubernatorial position since July 2021. Raju, 74, belongs to the royal Pusapati family of Vizianagaram. He served as civil aviation minister from May 27, 2014 to March 10, 2018 under PM Narendra Modi. Sawant congratulated the new governor and said that his vast experience in administration would help him in running the state. 'He will guide us in running the administration,' he said.
Mint
4 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Who is Gajapathi Raju? Former Union Minister is the new Goa Governor
Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju, a veteran politician and former Union minister, officially assumed the office of Governor of Goa on Saturday, July 26, 2025. He succeeded PS Sreedharan Pillai in this role. The swearing-in ceremony took place in Raj Bhavan, attended by the state's Chief Minister, Pramod Sawant and other dignitaries. Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju, 74, said he would follow the Constitution of India while serving the people. "We all work as a team, and I am very delighted that I am associated with Goans," he said. Referring to his political career, Gajapathi Raju said he had a short tenure in Parliament. "I have been in and out as a minister in the government and also sat in the opposition. I have wide experience," the governor added. Pasupati Ashok Gajapathi Raju, 74, belongs from the Pasupati royal family of the Vizianagaram princely state in Andhra Pradesh. He is the younger son of Maharaja Pasupati Vijayarama Gajapathi Raju, also a Parliamentarian. Pasupati Ashok Gajapathi Raju has served as former Union Minister of Civil Aviation from May 2014 to March 2018. He began his political career in 1978, winning the Vizianagaram Legislative assembly constituency as a Janata Party candidate. He was also a cabinet minister, Commercial Taxes, in the Government of Andhra Pradesh from 1983 - 1985. Raju contested the Vizianagaram Lok Sabha seat for the first time in 2014 and emerged victorious. Raju later joined the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), becoming a key figure in the party. He resigned from the party only recently to take up the Governor's position. Raju is known to have played a significant role in establishing various governmental and non-government educational institutions, particularly as Chairman of MANSAS trust. He is also interested in public health, water and electricity conservation. He launched schemes for housing, drinking water and health, according to the official website of MANSAS.
Hindustan Times
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Prez appoints new Hry, Goa Governors and Ladakh LG
New Delhi/Chandigarh: President Droupadi Murmu on Monday appointed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Jammu and Kashmir deputy chief minister Kavinder Gupta as the lieutenant governor of Ladakh, besides naming Prof Ashim Kumar Ghosh and Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju as the new Governors of Haryana and Goa, respectively. Prez appoints new Hry, Goa Governors and Ladakh LG In a press communique, the Rashtrapati Bhavan said that the President has also accepted the resignation of Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (retd) as the lieutenant governor of Union territory of Ladakh and appointed Gupta as his successor. All appointments would take effect from the dates they assume charge of their respective offices, the release added. Gupta, 65, is also a three-term former mayor of Jammu. On April 30, 2018, he was appointed as the deputy chief minister in the PDP-BJP coalition government in the erstwhile state of J&K. He, however, quit the post 51 days later on June 19 as the BJP pulled out from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led alliance, bringing an end to the Mehbooba Mufti-led government. In 2019, the erstwhile state of J&K was bifurcated into two Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. While the former has an elected legislature, the UT of Ladakh is administered directly by the Union government through a lieutenant governor, without a legislature, under the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. On March 19, 2015, Gupta was elected as the speaker of the J&K legislative assembly, becoming only the first BJP leader to hold the post at the time. In the 2014 assembly elections, Gupta had defeated Raman Bhalla of the Congress in the Gandhinagar constituency in J&K. Gupta has been associated with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) as well as the BJP's ideological fount, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in the past. Gupta will take over as the LG of Ladakh from BD Mishra, a former brigadier of the Indian Army and a former commander of the Counter Hijack Force of the National Security Guard (NSG), also known as the Black Cat Commandos. After an illustrious career spanning over 33 years, Mishra retired from the army on July 31, 1995, and took over as the governor of Arunachal Pradesh on October 3, 2017. Mishra was only the second LG of Ladakh after Radha Krishnan Mathur, who served for three years, from October 31, 2019 to February 11, 2023. Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju, the new governor of Goa, is a former Union minister and a senior leader of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), a key ally of the BJP in the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA). He served as the civil aviation minister for four years during the first term of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government. He resigned from the Union Cabinet after the TDP, headed by N Chandrababu Naidu, walked out of NDA over the party's demand of special status for Andhra Pradesh. The Naidu-led party returned to the NDA fold in the run-up to the simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and the Andhra Pradesh assembly early last year. Raju's elevation to the gubernatorial post underlines the BJP's willingness to share key postings with its NDA allies. Raju also has a rich experience in legislative politics as a seven-term MLA and one-term Lok Sabha MP. Prof Ashim Kumar Ghosh, the new governor of Haryana, is a former BJP West Bengal unit president. A respected academic and political thinker, Ghosh had contested the Lok Sabha elections, albeit unsuccessfully, from the eastern state. A section of the BJP West Bengal unit sees the elevation of its old guard as a plan to allow more space for the young leadership in the state, which will head to the assembly polls next year.
Hans India
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Never ran after power, positions, says Ashok
Vizianagaram: Senior TDP leader leader and newly-appointed Governor of Goa, Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju, expressed his gratitude and shared his thoughts following the official announcement of his appointment. Speaking to the media, Ashok Gajapathi Raju said, 'I consider it a privilege that my name was proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. I have never chased positions for personal gain. Once entrusted with a role, I believe in discharging my duties with full responsibility'. Reflecting on his decades-long political journey, he said, 'I have been in active politics for nearly 40 years and have held several key positions during that time. However, the post of Governor is a constitutional one, and I will now step away from direct political activity'. He affirmed that he would carry out his new responsibilities in accordance with the Constitution, adding, 'While I will no longer be involved in direct politics, I will still offer my suggestions and guidance to the party when needed.' Ashok Gajapathi Raju also said that he had spoken with the Chief Minister of Goa and the current Governor, as part of the transition process. He said his commitment to uphold the legacy and reputation of the Telugu people through his service as Governor.
The Hindu
14-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju appointed Governor of Goa
President Droupadi Murmu on Monday (July 14, 2025) appointed former Union Civil Aviation Minister Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju as the Governor for Goa, according to a press release from the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju is the younger son of the last Maharaja of Vizianagaram, Maharaja Pusapati Vijayarama Gajapathi Raju. He has held several offices in the past, including being an MLA in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly, holding Cabinet posts in Andhra Pradesh as Minister for Excise, Commercial Taxes, Finance, Revenue and Legislative Affairs, and and MP in the Lok Sabha. Mr. Raju will replace P.S. Sreedharan Pillai, who assumed office in July 2021 Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday (July 14, 2025) welcomed his appointment, saying that the government will work closely with him for the state's development. 'A seasoned statesman with vast administrative and parliamentary experience, his guidance will be invaluable as we continue our journey towards Viksit Goa 2037,' CM Sawant said in a post on X. 'We look forward to working closely with Hon'ble Governor Raju Ji to further the development and welfare of every Goan,' he added. Prof. Ashim Kumar Ghosh was also appointed as Governor of Haryana, and Kavinder Gupta was appointed as Lieutenant Governor for Ladakh, the release added. The release also stated that the above appointments will take effect from the dates they will assume charge of their respective offices. (with inputs from PTI)
