Newly-appointed Communications and IT Minister A Raja joined work on Wednesday.

Immediately after taking charge, Raja promised to pick up the threads of his predecessor's work and consider slashing domestic roaming charges that Dayanidhi Maran wanted to.

"I will continue with the policies of my predecessor. My top priority will be rural telephony; to provide facilities to the lowest ebb of the people," he told media persons.

Raja said he would seek ways to attract overseas investment in the country's telecom sector, with mobile segment alone witnessing over six million subscriber additions a month.

The minister added that he will give final shape to the Maran's schemes and policies, which are in the pipeline, after discussing them with his officials.

Image: Newly-appointed Communications and IT Minister A Raja at his office in New Delhi.
Photograph: Manpreet Romana/AFP/Getty Images