Jairam member of plan panel

In a belated move, the PMO has included rural development minister Jairam Ramesh as a member of the full Planning Commission. HT reports.

In a belated move, the PMO has included rural development minister Jairam Ramesh as a member of the full Planning Commission.

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The PMO had excluded Ramesh from the full Planning Commission before the National Development Council meeting on December 27, upsetting him.

The rural development ministry has the highest budget in the social sector, and is considered key for the UPA’s electoral prospects. Once this realisation dawned upon the PMO, it issued a notification re-instating Ramesh on January 17.