PM Modi gives Suresh Prabhu additional charge of civil aviation ministry

Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu given additional charge of civil aviation ministry, a Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesman revealed today. Union minister Suresh Prabhu was earlier Railway minister, but the post is now being handled by Piyush Goyal. This move follows the resignation of TDP ministers from NDA government yesterday. This included aviation minister Gajapathi Raju.

Ashok Gajapathi Raju's resignation was accepted by President Ram Nath Kovind, a Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesperson said. In a brief communique, the spokesperson said, "The President, as advised by the Prime Minister, has directed that Suresh Prabhu, Cabinet Minister, shall be assigned the charge of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, in addition to his existing portfolio."

Raju and another Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MP Y S Chowdary had resigned from the council of ministers after party supremo and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu decided to pull out his ministers. Naidu took the decision after facing relentless attacks from the opposition for "failing" to secure special category status for Andhra Pradesh. TDP, however, continues to be a part of the NDA.