Bjp Members Inducted In Finance Panel

The Vajpayee government has inducted two BJP members in the 11th finance commission_JC Jaitley and M C Jain.

This is besides the chairman AM Khusro and the fourth member, Professor Amresh Bagchi_both of whom are economic experts. Some of these members are likely to join duty today.

Bagchi is a former director of the National Institute of Public finance and policy. He was a member of the BJP's task force, chaired by Rajasthan chief minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat , set up to suggest measures to improve Centre-state financial relations.

Khusro is a former member of the Planning Commission and is reported to share a close rapport with senior BJP leaders.

Jaitley has been a member of the BJP's national executive and has functioned as the party's in-charge for the election cell. He is a retired IAS official and a former secretary to the Union health ministry.

Jain is a former advocate-general of Madhya Pradesh and was a member of the BJP's national executive in 1993-94.

The induction of these members is held by party leaders as positive signs that could help in better distribution of resources between the Centre and the states.

The Commission has been asked to submit its report by 31 December 1999 so that its suggestion for better distribution of resources could be applied for the period 2000 -2005.