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Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju, who joins Narendra Modi cabinet, brings a touch of old royalty. He is a first time MP from Vizianagaram and one of the senior most leaders from the Telugu Desam Party.
Hailing from the royal family of Gajapati from Vizianagaram. Ashok Gajapati Raju is a 7 time MLA and served as Finance and Revenue Minister in the cabinets of NT Rama Rao and N Chandrababu Naidu.
Known to be a no nonsense man with a clean image, Ashok Gajapati is widely travelled, well read and a serious legislator. He brings lot of legislative experience to the Parliament. A trusted lieutenant of Chandrababu Naidu, he is expected to bring strength to the Narendra Modi Government. For the present, he is the sole representative from the TDP, a major ally of the NDA from the South.
He has been representing Vizianagaram Assembly constituency. First elected in 1978, he lost only once in 2004.. The 63 year old Raju is known for austerity. As Finance Minister in Naidu’s cabinet, when the State was going through a financial crisis, he gave up official car and facilities and stuck to his own.
His family is also full of politicians. His father PVG Raju was an MP. Both his elder brother Ananda Gajapati Raju and his sister in law Uma Gajapati Raju were also MPs.
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