Gidugu Rudra Raju

Gidugu Rudra Raju (born 18 January 1969) is an Indian politician who served as the president of Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC)^[1] and formerly served as an MLC in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council.^[2][3] He also served as All India Congress Committee Secretary incharge of Odisha.

Gidugu Rudra Raju
23rd President of the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee
In office 23 November 2022 (2022-11-23) – 15 January 2024 (2024-01-15)
AICC President	Mallikarjun Kharge
Preceded by	Sake Sailajanath
Succeeded by	Y. S. Sharmila
Personal details
Born	(1969-01-18) 18 January 1969 (age 56) Amalapuram, Andhra Pradesh, India
Political party	Indian National Congress
Alma mater	Osmania University

Early life

Rudraraju is a native of Amalapuram in East Godavari district.^[4]

Career

Rudraraju started his career in politics at a young age, being an active student union leader of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), student wing of the Indian National Congress. He then went on to hold key posts in the Andhra Pradesh Youth Congress. When Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR) was the APCC president, he was a campaign committee member.^[5] During the chief ministership of YSR, he served as the chairman of the Andhra Pradesh Medical Infrastructure Corporation. He also formerly served as an MLC in the undivided Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council.

He has been described as a hardcore loyalist to his party and YSR.^[4]

Gidugu Rudra Raju was appointed as Andhra Pradesh Congress president (APCC) president on 23 November 2022^[6][7] and he resigned from the post on 15 January 2024.^[8] Gidugu Rudra Raju was appointed as special invitee to the Congress Working Committee on 16 January 2024.