Montek may continue as Planning Commission Deputy Chairman

Montek Singh Ahluwalia is likely to remain Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, which will be constituted shortly.     

"I am told the new Commission will be constituted very soon," a high-placed source told PTI without denying speculations that noted economist Ahluwalia would be there for a second innings in the Commission.     

The Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, along with other members, submitted resignations to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on May 18, after the earlier UPA government completed its term.     

Ahluwalia, who was reportedly in the reckoning for the Finance Minister's position in the new government, had played a key role in formulating economic policies in the country and also the government's response to the global financial meltdown.     

The Oxford-trained economist had also served as Finance Secretary when Manomohan Singh was Finance Minister in the Narasimha Rao government and even later.     

Some existing members are likely to be retained in  the new Commission, which would be constituted shortly by the government.

The members of the outgoing Planning Commission include Abhijit Sen, Kirit Parikh, Anwarul Hoda, V L Chopra, B Mungekar, Syeda Hameed, B N Yugandhar and B K Chaturvedi.     

Well-known economist Kirit Parikh headed the Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, V L Chopra is former Director General of the Indian Council for Agriculture Research while B Mungekar had served as Vice-Chancellor of Bombay University.     

Anwarul Hoda served as Deputy Director General to the WTO and in the Indian Council for Research in International Economic Relations. Sayeda Hamid was inducted from the National Commission for Women, B N Yugandhar was director of the IAS academy at Mussoorie while Abhijit Sen was professor of economics at Jawaharlal Nehru University.     

Among other things, the Commission will have to undertake a mid-term review of the performance of the Eleventh Five-Year Plan, the performance of which was impacted by the global financial crisis.     

The Prime Minister wants the Planning Commission to continue holding charge till the constitution of the new Commission as he does not want work to be hampered, the source said.     

As a practice, the Commission members, who are appointed by the Prime Minister, resign after the Government's term is completed, and the new Commission is constituted by the new government.