Congress 'surprised' with Kerala economic adviser appointment

The Congress in Kerala is not impressed with Gita Gopinath who has been appointed the economic adviser to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Gita Gopinath is a professor at the Harvard University, but her appointment has surprised the Congress.

Reacting to 38-year-old Gita Gopinath's appointment, Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala said: "This appointment is surprising. People of Kerala would like to know why development economist and Finance Minister Thomas Issac was being ignored. The Marxists speak against new liberal economic policies, but they have appointed an expert (Gita Gopinath) in this field as the Chief Minister's adviser."

Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy also expressed his surprise. "It's surprising that the Chief Minister's economic adviser will operate from the USA," Chandy told IANS.

Finance Minister Issac declined to comment despite repeated questions from the media persons here.

Meanwhile, top leadership of the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist also has expressed displeasure over Gita Gopinath's appointment, sources told IANS.

After assuming charge, the Chief Minister has been appointing advisers in different fields. However, one such appointee -- M.K. Damodaran -- decided not to take up the position of legal adviser as it was alleged he had been counsel of entities that filed cases against the government.

--IANS

sg/bim/vt