Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju Biography 
Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju is an Indian politician from Andhra Pradesh, belonging to Telugu Desam Party. He currently serves as a Member of Parliament in 16th Lok Sabha, and is the former Union Minister for Civil Aviation in the Narendra Modi Government. Raju belongs to a royal family of Andhra Pradesh. He is the younger son of the last Maharaja of Vizianagram princely state. In 2014 general assembly elections, he got elected from Vizianagaram, and it is his first term as an MP. As a state MLA of Andhra Pradesh, he won the state assembly elections of 1983, 1985, 1989, 1994, 1999 and 2009, thus serving 6 times.
Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju was born on 26 June 1951 in Madras Presidency soon after power of princely states was abolished. Raju comes from the Pusapati royal family of the Vizianagaram estate, and his father Maharaja Pusapati Vijayarama Gajapathi Raju was the last Maharaja of Vizianagram. He is married to Suneela and the couple has two children. His royal family is known for philanthropic activities, and has built and renovated a few temples in Andhra Pradesh. His father was a parliamentarian, and both his brother and father were associated with state politics too. His father died in 1995.
Gajapathi Raju’s political career began in association with Janata party. He was elected to state assembly for the first time in 1978 representing Janata party, when he contested from Vizianagaram Vidhan Sabha constituency. Since then he has been elected to state assembly for 6 more times, representing Telugu Desam Party. He has been associated with the party since its formation in 1982. In regional politics, he has served as the Cabinet Minister for Excise, Commercial Taxes, Finance,Revenue and Legislative Affairs.
Published: N/A
Updated: July 02, 2018
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