Following the resignation of Ashok Gajapati Raju, Prime Minister Narendra took additional charge of the Civil Aviation Ministry. Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MPs Ashok Gajapati Raju and YS Chowdary resigned from the Narendra Modi Cabinet. The centre is under attack for failure in granting special category status to Andhra Pradesh.
President Ram Nath Kovind accepted the resignation of Raju and Chowdary. An official statement from the Rashtrapati Bhavan read,
“The President of India, as advised by the Prime Minister, has accepted the resignations of Union Ministers Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Y.S. 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.”
Raju was the Minister of Civil Aviation and Chowdary was the MoS for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences.
Although the TDP members pulled out of the Modi government, they continue to be a part of the NDA. The ministers handed over the resignation letters to the prime minister.