Commerce and Industry Minister and BJP MP Suresh Prabhu was given additional charge of Civil Aviation on 10 March, two days after Ashok Gajapathi Raju resigned from the post.
Raju’s exit came as a part of his party, the Telugu Desam Party, withdrawing from the NDA government at the Centre in protest of Andhra Pradesh being denied a ‘special category status’. On 8 March, TDP MP YS Chowdary had also stepped down as the MoS for Science and Technology & Earth Sciences.
- The President of India directed cabinet minister Suresh Prabhu to take charge of Civil Aviation after TDP’s Gajapathi Raju resigned from his position
TDP ministers Ashok Gajapathi Raju and YS Chowdary submitted their resignation letters during a meeting with PM Modi on 8 March - Addressing a press conference, YS Chowdary said that the TDP “will continue to be a part of the NDA, but not take up any ministerial positions”
- Prior to the resignation, PM Modi had spoken to Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu
- On 8 March, BJP ministers K Srinivasa Rao and T Manikyala Rao resigned from the Andhra cabinet
- The TDP move comes after Arun Jaitley ruled out a special category status for Andhra Pradesh, offering a special package for the state instead
Suresh Prabhu to Take Charge of Civil Aviation Ministry
President Ram Nath Kovind vested Minister of Commerce and Industry Suresh Prabhu with the additional charge of the Civil Aviation ministry, in consultation with the Prime Minister.
The President’s office tweeted that Prabhu has been directed to take up the charge of Civil Aviation in addition to his existing portfolio.
President Accepts TDP Resignations; Civil Aviation Min Now Under PM
The Rashtrapati Bhawan has said that the President of India, as advised by the Prime Minister, has accepted the resignations of Union Ministers Ashok Gajapathi Raju and YS Chowdhary.
Further, as advised by the Prime Minister, the President has directed that the work of the Ministry of Civil Aviation will be looked after by the Prime Minister.
TDP Ministers Address the Media After Resignation
Addressing the media after submitting his resignation, TDP's YS Chowdary said that they “will continue to be a part of the NDA, but not take up any ministerial positions”.
“I don't think there is anything wrong in that,” he added.
I don’t think it’s fair on our part to expect PM to deal with these issues. It’s for the concerned ministries to take up, already considerable amount of time has lapsed.YS Chowdary, TDP
When asked about the possibility of the BJP allying with the YSR Congress Party, Chowdary said, "That is between those two parties, we have nothing to say on that, you can ask them."
Two TDP Union Ministers Resign, Submit Resignation Letters to PM Modi
The two TDP Union Ministers, who were directed on 7 March to resign, submitted their resignation letters during a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 8 March.