Ashok Lahiri appointed NITI Aayog vice-chairman, Gobardhan Das named member ahead of Bengal polls

In a significant development ahead of the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections, economist Ashok Lahiri has been appointed as the vice-chairman of NITI Aayog, while scientist Gobardhan Das has been named a member of the same body. The appointments place Lahiri in a key leadership position within the government’s premier policy think tank, which is chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Lahiri, an outgoing BJP MLA from West Bengal’s Balurghat constituency, is not contesting the ongoing elections. He brings extensive experience in economic policymaking, having earlier served as the 12th Chief Economic Adviser to the Government of India. An alumnus of Presidency College in Kolkata, he has also taught at the Delhi School of Economics and held senior roles at institutions such as the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, Bandhan Bank, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund.

The appointment also marks a transition in leadership at NITI Aayog, where outgoing vice-chairperson Suman Bery has been serving since May 2022. The vice-chairman holds a rank equivalent to a Union Cabinet minister and plays a central role in shaping policy frameworks and advising the government on economic and developmental strategies.

Alongside Lahiri, Gobardhan Das has been appointed as a member of the think tank. Currently serving as the director of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Bhopal, Das previously held the position of professor and chair at the Special Centre for Molecular Medicine at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi. His inclusion is seen as strengthening the scientific and research perspective within the policy body.

The appointments come at a politically sensitive time, with West Bengal in the midst of assembly elections. While Lahiri is not in the electoral fray this time, his elevation to a top policy role highlights the Centre’s continued focus on drawing experienced professionals into governance roles, even as electoral activity continues across the state.