New Delhi: An elaborate ritual today preceded new HRD Minister M M Pallam Raju assuming charge of the Ministry, with a host of his supporters and officials turning up to greet him on the occasion.
Raju`s room was brightly lit for the occasion with a priest performing `havan` as Raju invoked the blessings of the deities especially placed in his room for the day.
The Minister`s chamber itself wore a fresh look as the furnitures were repositioned tastefully according to Vastu Shastra guidelines, the priest said.
Raju would be sitting facing South-East as person sitting in this direction is blessed with power, he said.
An electronics and communications engineering, Raju was first elected to Parliament in 1989 and was the youngest MP in the 9th Lok Sabha.
Re-elected to the 14th Lok Sabha (2004) and 15th Lok Sabha (2009), Raju previously held the office of Minister of State for Defence. He represents the Kakinada constituency in Andhra Pradesh. Raju also holds an MBA from Temple University, Philadelphia, USA.
PTI
