Since inception, Pusapati Ashoka Gajapathi Raju has stood as a pillar for TDP in Vizianagaram district. It is evident that the YSRCP Govt. is targeting him by helping transfer the trust responsibilities to his brother’s daughter Sanchaita Gajapathi Raju.
Known for his honesty and integrity, Ashoka Gajapathy Raju has left an indelible mark on the district with his work and contributions through the MANSAS trust. He has won many elections and lost only to waves of YSR and YS Jagan. Unable to weaken him by fair means, YSRCP is resorting to under the table techniques by removing MANSAS from his hold.
It is said that many hands were behind this change and YSRCP took advantage of Raju’s health to perform this coup. While Raju is being treated for his ailments in Delhi, the State Govt. made Sanchita Gajapathy, the daughter of his brother late Ananda Gajapathi Raju and his first wife, as the chairman of MANSAS trust.
MANSAS trust was established by the father of Ashoka Gajapathy Raju, Late PVG Raju in 1958. He donated his palace and 14000 acres of land to the MANSAS trust which he started in the memory of his beloved father Alak Narayana Gajapathy. This trust oversees activities of the renowned Simhachalam temple along with another 108 temples and 12 educational institutions. These establishments provide employment to hundreds of people and they act as a reliable vote bank for the family. This goodwill made both the brothers win majority of their elections except in the rarest of cases.
In 2019 general elections, both Raju and his daughter Aditi Raju lost to their YSRCP counterparts in Parliament and Assembly constituencies of Vizianagaram owing to the strong Jagan tide that swept over Andhra Pradesh. YSRCP wants to bank on this defeat and make things difficult for Raju by breaking the loyal vote bank through change in guardianship of the trust.
Even though Raju has gone to the court against the transfer, the whole exercise is taking a toll on his health. A silent sympathy wave is passing through the Vizianagaram district in favour of Raju. People believe that a man like Raju is being harassed for political reasons. No government has ever fiddled with the working of MANSAS earlier. By doing so, Jagan is only helping Raju win over people he lost in the 2019 elections.
