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{{Short description|Indian politician (born 1951)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2014}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju
| image = The Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Shri Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati in New Delhi on October 30, 2014.jpg
| caption = Raju in October 2014
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1951|06|26|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Chennai|Madras]], [[Madras State]], India<br> (present-day Chennai, [[Tamil Nadu]])
| residence = [[Raj Bhavan, Panaji]]
| office = [[List of governors of Goa|Governor of Goa]]
| 1blankname = [[List of chief ministers of Goa|Chief Minister]]
| 1namedata = [[Pramod Sawant]]
| term_start = 26 July 2025
| term_end =
| predecessor = [[P. S. Sreedharan Pillai]]
| successor =
| office1 = 29th [[Ministry of Civil Aviation (India)|Union Minister of Civil Aviation]]
| term_start1 = 26 May 2014
| term_end1 = 9 March 2018
| primeminister1 = [[Narendra Modi]]
| predecessor1 = [[Ajit Singh (politician, born 1939)|Ajit Singh]]
| successor1 = [[Suresh Prabhu]]
| office2 = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha]]
| constituency2 = [[Vizianagaram Lok Sabha constituency|Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh]]
| term_start2 = 16 May 2014
| term_end2 = 23 May 2019
| predecessor2 = [[Botcha Jhansi Lakshmi]]
| successor2 = [[Bellana Chandra Sekhar]]
| office3 = [[First N. Chandrababu Naidu ministry|Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation]] in [[Government of Andhra Pradesh|Andhra Pradesh]]
| term_start3 = 11 October 1999
| term_end3 = 14 May 2004
| governor3 = * [[Krishan Kant]]
* [[C. Rangarajan]]
* [[Surjit Singh Barnala]]
| 1blankname3 = Chief Minister
| 1namedata3 = [[N. Chandrababu Naidu]]
| successor3 = [[Konathala Ramakrishna]]
| office4 = [[First N. Chandrababu Naidu ministry|Minister of Finance and Legislative Affairs]] in [[Government of Andhra Pradesh|Andhra Pradesh]]
| term_start4 = 1 September 1995
| term_end4 = 10 October 1999
| governor4 = * [[Krishan Kant]]
* [[C. Rangarajan]]
| 1blankname4 = Chief Minister
| 1namedata4 = [[N. Chandrababu Naidu]]
| predecessor4 =
| successor4 =
| office5 = [[Fourth N. T. Rama Rao ministry|Minister of Commercial Taxes and Legislative Affairs]] in [[Government of Andhra Pradesh|Andhra Pradesh]]
| term_start5 = 12 December 1994
| term_end5 = 31 August 1995
| governor5 = [[Krishan Kant]]
| 1blankname5 = Chief Minister
| 1namedata5 = [[N. T. Rama Rao]]
| predecessor5 =
| successor5 =
| office6 = [[Second N. T. Rama Rao ministry|Minister of Excise]] in [[Government of Andhra Pradesh|Andhra Pradesh]]
| term_start6 = 9 March 1985
| term_end6 = 2 December 1989
| 1blankname6 = Chief Minister
| 1namedata6 = [[N. T. Rama Rao]]
| office7 = [[First N. T. Rama Rao ministry|Minister of Commercial Taxes]] in [[Government of Andhra Pradesh|Andhra Pradesh]]
| term_start7 = 1983
| term_end7 = 1985
| 1blankname7 = Chief Minister
| 1namedata7 = [[N. T. Rama Rao]]
| office8 = [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Member]] of [[Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly]]
| constituency8 = [[Vizianagaram Assembly constituency|Vizianagaram]]
| term_start8 = 19 May 2009
| term_end8 = 28 March 2014
| predecessor8 = [[Kolagatla Veerabhadra Swamy]]
| successor8 = Meesala Geetha
| term_start9 = 5 March 1978
| term_end9 = 14 November 2003
| predecessor9 = Appannadora Appasani
| successor9 = [[Kolagatla Veerabhadra Swamy]]
| constituency9 = [[Vizianagaram Assembly constituency|Vizianagaram]]
| party = [[Telugu Desam Party]]
| religion =
| alma_mater = [[Hyderabad Public School]]
| children = 2 (including [[Pusapati Aditi Vijayalakshmi]])
| website = http://ashokgajapathiraju.com
}}

'''Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju''' (born 26 June 1951) is an Indian politician who is currently serving as the [[List of governors of Goa|governor of Goa since July 2025]] and the former [[Ministry of Civil Aviation (India)|Union Minister for Civil Aviation]]. A scion of royal family of [[Vizianagaram Estate|Vizianagaram princely state]], he is the younger son of the last Maharaja of Vizianagaram. He was appointed as governor of Goa by president of India on 14 July 2025<ref>{{cite web | last=Analysis | first=Daily News & | title=Ashok Gajapathi Raju: The man with the "Royal Touch" | website=dna | date=26 May 2014 | url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-ashok-gajapathi-raju-the-man-with-the-royal-touch-1991472 | access-date=30 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://members.iinet.net.au/~royalty/ips/v/vizianagram.html|title=VIZIANAGRAM|work=iinet.net.au|access-date=30 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181026105517/http://members.iinet.net.au/~royalty/ips/v/vizianagram.html|archive-date=26 October 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was a member of Andhra Pradesh State legislature for over twenty five years and was a State Minister, for thirteen years holding the portfolios of Commercial Taxes, Excise, Legislative affairs, Finance, Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url = http://www.civilaviation.gov.in/about-minister/meet-the-minister|title = Honourable Minister {{!}} Ministry of Civil Aviation|website = www.civilaviation.gov.in|access-date = 2016-03-03}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju comes from the [[Pusapati]] royal family of the [[Vizianagaram Estate|Vizianagaram estate]]. He is the son of Maharaja [[Pusapati Vijayarama Gajapati Raju|Pusapati Vijayarama Gajapathi Raju]], the last [[Vizianagaram Estate#List of title-holders|Maharaja of Vizianagram]]. His family is known for its philanthropy through its temples that include the famous [[Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha temple, Simhachalam|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, [[The Hyderabad Public School, Begumpet|Hyderabad Public School]] and [[Dr. V. S. Krishna Govt. Degree & P.G College|V.S. Krishna College]], Visakhapatnam.<ref name="business-standard1">{{cite news|author=BS Reporter |url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/politics/ashok-gajapathi-raju-114052600980_1.html |title=Ashok Gajapathi Raju |newspaper=Business Standard India |publisher=Business Standard |date=26 May 2014 |access-date=28 May 2014}}</ref> His father Pusapati Vijayarama Gajapati Raju and his brother [[Pusapati Ananda Gajapati Raju (born 1950)|Pusapati Ananda Gajapathi Raju]] were also Indian parliamentarians and ministers in the state government.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thekshatriyas.org/famous_people/p-ashok-gajapathi-raju/ |title=P Ashok Gajapathi Raju | The Kshatriyas Association of North America |publisher=Thekshatriyas.org |access-date=28 May 2014}}</ref><ref name="Aviation minister shuns privileges">{{cite news|title=Aviation minister shuns privileges, stands in queue, takes bus to aircraft|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/aviation-minister-shuns-privileges-stands-in-queue-takes-bus-to-aircraft/article1-1247913.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140804010017/http://www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/aviation-minister-shuns-privileges-stands-in-queue-takes-bus-to-aircraft/article1-1247913.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 August 2014|access-date=5 August 2014}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":0" /> He is from royal [[Pusapati]] family of [[Andhra Pradesh]] and is 11th Custodian of his family.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Royal House {{!}} A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ROYAL HOUSE OF VIZIANAGARAM|url=http://mansasedu.org/Royal_House.html|access-date=2020-08-29|website=mansasedu.org}}</ref> He married Suneela in the year 1974 and has 2 daughters, one of whom is [[Pusapati Aditi Vijayalakshmi]], the MLA from [[Vizianagaram Assembly constituency]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Members : Lok Sabha|url=http://164.100.47.194/Loksabha/Members/memberbioprofile.aspx?mpsno=4760&lastls=16|access-date=2020-08-29|website=164.100.47.194}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pativada |first=Sreenu Babu |date=2024-04-13 |title=2 women in fray to take forward family legacy in North Andhra politics |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2024/Apr/13/2-women-in-fray-to-take-forward-family-legacy-in-north-andhra-politics |access-date=2025-07-19 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

==Political career==
[[File:The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee administering the oath as Cabinet Minister to Shri Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati, at a Swearing-in Ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on May 26, 2014.jpg|250px|thumb|President Pranab Mukherjee administering the oath as Cabinet Minister to Raju]]
He won the [[Vizianagaram Assembly constituency|Vizianagaram]] Legislative Assembly 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 (Lok Sabha constituency)|Vizianagaram]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://eciresults.nic.in/ConstituencywiseS0120.htm?ac=20 |title=Constituencywise-All Candidates |publisher=Eciresults.nic.in |date=17 May 2014 |access-date=28 May 2014 |archive-date=19 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519002158/http://eciresults.nic.in/ConstituencywiseS0120.htm?ac=20 |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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 [[Ministry of Civil Aviation (India)|Civil Aviation]] in the [[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]] cabinet. He resigned on 8 March 2018 over a dispute with central government to provide special status to Andhra Pradesh.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Nair|first1=Sobhana K.|title=TDP Ministers Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Y.S. Chowdary resign from Union Cabinet|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tdp-ministers-ashok-gajapathi-raju-and-ys-chowdary-submit-resignations/article22983614.ece|website=The Hindu|access-date=9 March 2018|language=en-IN|date=8 March 2018}}</ref>
== Goa Governorship ==
On July 14, 2025, he was appointed as the Governor of Goa, with his swearing-in scheduled for July 26.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-07-14 |title=Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju appointed Governor of Goa |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/goa/pusapati-ashok-gajapathi-raju-appointed-governor-of-goa/article69810418.ece |access-date=2025-07-19 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> He officially resigned from the TDP to take up the post and expressed gratitude to the party leadership for the opportunity to serve.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Service |first=Express News |date=2025-07-08 |title=Senior leader Pusapati Ashok quits TDP; to take oath as Goa governor on July 26 |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2025/Jul/19/senior-leader-pusapati-ashok-quits-tdp-to-take-oath-as-goa-governor-on-july-26 |access-date=2025-07-19 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

== 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.<ref name=":0" />

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|in-lwr}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Botsa Jhansi Lakshmi]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament<br>for [[Vizianagaram (Lok Sabha constituency)|Vizianagaram]] |years=2014 – 2019}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Bellana Chandra Sekhar]]}}
|-
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Ajit Singh (politician, born 1939)|Ajit Singh]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Ministry of Civil Aviation (India)|Minister of Civil Aviation]]|years=26 May 2014 – 8 March 2018}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Suresh Prabhu]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[P. S. Sreedharan Pillai]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of governors of Goa|Governor of Goa]]|years=26 July 2025 – Present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}

{{Current Indian governors}}{{Cabinet of Narendra Modi}}
{{Ministry of Civil Aviation (India)}}
{{16th LS members from Andhra Pradesh |state=collapsed}}
{{Portal|India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Raju, Ashok Gajapati}}
[[Category:1951 births]]
[[Category:Janata Party politicians]]
[[Category:Telugu Desam Party politicians]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:India MPs 2014–2019]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:People from Vizianagaram district]]
[[Category:Members of the Cabinet of India]]
[[Category:Union ministers from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Civil aviation ministers of India]]
[[Category:Narendra Modi ministry]]
[[Category:People from Uttarandhra]]
[[Category:Governors of Goa]]

Ashok Gajapathi Raju - Revision history

Nuel ID at 15:33, 7 March 2026