Prime Minister Narendra Modi met economist Ashok Lahiri, a BJP MLA from Bengal's Balurghat, a day after he was named NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman.
Lahiri, a former chief economic adviser of India, was appointed vice-chairman alongside a new set of full-time members: Rajiv Gauba, KV Raju, Gobardhan Das, Dr. M Srinivas and Abhay Karandikar.
The appointment comes at a time when the BJP is in a battle with the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal.
Lahiri, a member of the Fifteenth Finance Commission, has held roles with global financial institutions, including Asian Development Bank, World Bank and IMF.
Government officials said that Modi underscored the central role of NITI Aayog in driving reform, innovation and cooperative federalism.
Lahiri's appointment is seen as an administrative reset and a political signal, with the BJP foregrounding a prominent Bengali face as West Bengal's assembly polls approach the second phase.
Officials described Lahiri's appointment as a move aimed at 'strengthening policy design' and 'execution through domain expertise.'
