Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju has been appointed as the new Governor of Goa, succeeding Sreedharan Pillai. The announcement was made on July 14, 2025, as part of a wider reshuffle of gubernatorial positions by President Droupadi Murmu.
A seasoned politician from Andhra Pradesh, Raju is best known for his tenure as Union Minister for Civil Aviation in the Narendra Modi government and his extensive legislative career. Belonging to the royal Pusapati family of Vizianagaram, he has also held key cabinet portfolios in the Andhra Pradesh state government, including Finance, Planning, and Revenue.
The reshuffle also saw Prof. Ashim Kumar Ghosh appointed as Governor of Haryana and Kavinder Gupta named as the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh.
1951 → Born into the royal Pusapati family of Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh
1978 → Elected as Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), Andhra Pradesh
1983 – 2014 → Served multiple terms as MLA representing Vizianagaram
→ Held key ministerial portfolios in the Andhra Pradesh government, including Finance, Planning, Revenue, and Excise
2014 → Elected to the Lok Sabha (Member of Parliament) from Vizianagaram
2014 – 2018 → Appointed Union Minister for Civil Aviation in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first cabinet
→ Led key reforms in India’s civil aviation sector, including the UDAN scheme and modernization of airport infrastructure
2019 → Contested the Lok Sabha elections but lost to the YSR Congress Party candidate
2019 – 2025 → Continued active political engagement as a senior leader of the Telugu Desam Party in Andhra Pradesh
July 14, 2025 → Appointed as the Governor of Goa by President Droupadi Murmu