By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
Economist Ahok Lahiri, a BJP leader from West Bengal, was on Saturday appointed as new vice chairman of the NITI Aayog, the government’s think-tank, replacing Suman K Bery.
Lahiri is currently serving as the BJP member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly from Balurghat constituency.
He is also a member of the Fifteenth Finance Commission. Lahiri previously served as 12th Chief Economic Adviser to the Government of India, reader at the Delhi School of Economics, chairman of Bandhan Bank, executive director at the Asian Development Bank and director of the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy and had stints with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, as a consultant and senior economist respectively. He is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
“Met Shri Ashok Kumar Lahiri Ji and conveyed my best wishes on his being appointed as the Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog. His rich experience in economics and public policy will greatly strengthen India’s reform journey and the journey towards becoming a Viksit Bharat. I am confident his efforts will further energise policymaking in our nation. My best wishes for a fruitful tenure,” the Prime Minister said.