A picture of former Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju sitting at the Hyderabad railway station grabbed the internet spotlight on Wednesday. The picture posted by the Telegu Desam Party on the microblogging site 'X' featured the 72-year-old member of the Vizianagaram princely state's royal family in a blue jacket, waiting to board a train with his family. TDP referred to Mr Gajapathi Raju as "a king in his own right" and praised him as an "epitome of honesty and integrity.
"Ashok Gajapathi Raju, a king in his own right, waiting for a train to go back home like a commoner at the Hyderabad Railway station," the party wrote while sharing the image. "He is an epitome of honesty and integrity, always doing what is best for people. Power never corrupts him. This is Telugu Desam for you!" the caption read.
Ashok Gajapathi Raju, a king in his own right, waiting for a train to go back home like a commoner at the Hyderabad Railway station. He is an epitome of honesty and integrity, always doing what is best for people. Power never corrupts him.
— Telugu Desam Party (@JaiTDP) January 10, 2024
This is Telugu Desam for you! pic.twitter.com/age1Ml8YO3
The picture, since being shared, has garnered over 90,000 views and 3,700 people have liked the picture so far. Many users also commented on the picture, hailing the 'simplicity of Raju.'
"This man is a Gem of the 21st Century a strong lineage called Gajpathi of Orissa, there are few people like this who can count on fingers like Ratan Tata, NTR and Ashok Gajapati Raju," one user by the name Hemanth Surapaneni wrote.
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This man is Gem of 21st Century a strong lineage called Gajpathi's of Orissa, there are few people like this can count on fingers like Ratan tata, NTR and Ashok Gajapati Raju.
— Hemanth Surapaneni (@hemanth_maveric) January 10, 2024
Another user Srinivasa Rao wrote, "One of the best Parliamentarians representing TDP! Despite being from a royal family, he believed in simplicity and honesty in public life!! We need such people in elected bodies to fulfil the aspirations of the common man! Jai Hind!!"
Who is Ashok Gajapati Raju?
Raju, a former minister in the Modi government is a scion of the royal family of Vizayanagram princely state, he is the younger son of the last Maharaja of Vizianagram. He served as a member of the Andhra Pradesh State legislature for more than 25 years and held various ministerial positions in the Andhra Pradesh government for 13 years. His responsibilities included overseeing Commercial Tax, Excise, Legislative Affairs, Finance, Planning, and Revenue portfolios.