Suresh Prabhu is Civil Aviation Minister

New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday appointed Suresh Prabhu as the new Civil Aviation Minister, a statement said.

A communique from the Rashtrapati Bhawan said Commerce and Industry Minister Prabhu will take additional charge of the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

The announcement came two days after P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju stepped down as the Aviation Minister following the Telegu Desam Party's quitting the NDA government. Preabhu will also currently take care of commerce ministry as well.

The decision of the resignation of Raju and another Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MP Y S Chowdary was made following Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu decided to pull them out from their respective ministries.

Such a decision was taken by Naidu after facing relentless attacks from the opposition for "failing" to secure special category status for Andhra Pradesh.