Raja: A lawyer and author

Chennai, May 15 (UNI) The new Communications and Information Technology Minister A Raja of the DMK who replaced Mr Dayanidhi Maran is a three-time Lok Sabha member.

Mr Raja (44) was first elected to the Lower House in 1996, re-elected in 1999 and 2004 from the Perambalur (SC) constituency in Tamil Nadu.

He was the Union Minister of State for Rural Development between 1999 and 2000 after which he became the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare.

With his election to the Lok Sabha in 2004 elections, Mr Raja became the Union Environment and Forests Minister holding Cabinet rank.

Born on May ten, 1963 to S K Andimuthu and Chinnapillai at Velur in Perambulur District of Tamil Nadu, Mr Raja studied to become a lawyer. He had also widely travelled and authored books.

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