President Droupadi Murmu has announced the appointment of new governors for three Indian states, and among them, veteran Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader Ashok Gajapathi Raju has been named as the Governor of Goa.
Ashok Gajapathi Raju, born on June 26, 1951, hails from a distinguished royal lineage. Despite his aristocratic background, he embraced the principles of socialism early in life. He pursued his early education at the Government Krishna School in Visakhapatnam and later at the Hyderabad Public School, which laid the foundation for his academic and ideological growth.
Known for his integrity and clean political track record, Raju is regarded as one of India’s few incorruptible politicians. He drew inspiration from towering socialist leaders like Jayaprakash Narayan and George Fernandes, whose ideologies deeply influenced his political philosophy.
Raju entered active politics by joining the Telugu Desam Party in 1982, the year it was founded. Since then, he has remained a committed member of the party, playing a vital role in its development over the decades. Throughout his political career, he has been elected six times as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) and once as a Member of Parliament (MP).
In 2014, during the tenure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first government, Ashok Gajapathi Raju served as the Union Minister for Civil Aviation, where he was recognized for his administrative acumen and policy decisions.
With his vast political experience, unblemished record, and dedication to public service, Ashok Gajapathi Raju now embarks on a new chapter as the constitutional head of Goa.