Sanyal has emerged as a leading candidate for the role as the BJP finalizes its new government in the state, The Telegraph reported, citing sources. The party leadership is contemplating the possibility of his entry into the Assembly.
West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari announced on Wednesday (May 13) that he will retain the Bhabanipur Assembly seat, where he triumphed over Mamata Banerjee, while stepping away from Nandigram. This constituency could serve as an avenue for Sanyal’s entry into Bengal politics.
Who is Sanjeev Sanyal?
Sanyal has been a member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council since 2022 and holds the rank of secretary to the Government of India. Additionally, he serves as the chancellor of the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics. Prior to this, he was principal economic adviser to the Union finance minister for nearly five years, ending in February 2022.
During his tenure, Sanyal was involved in numerous economic reforms and policy initiatives. He has represented India at prestigious international forums such as the G7, OECD, and G20, where he also co-chaired the Framework Working Group. In 2023, he was awarded the KPS Menon Memorial Award for his contributions to public service.
Before entering the government sector, Sanyal spent over two decades in international finance. At Deutsche Bank, he served as chief economist for South and South-East Asia before advancing to global strategist and managing director.
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Sanyal’s academic background began at Shri Ram College of Commerce, followed by the University of Oxford on a Rhodes Scholarship. His research and policy work in urban systems earned him the Eisenhower Fellowship in 2007.
He has also held roles as a visiting professor and fellow at various prestigious institutions, including the University of Oxford, the Royal Geographical Society in London, the Institute of Policy Studies in Singapore, and Jawaharlal Nehru University.
Additional accolades include being selected as a ‘Young Global Leader’ by the World Economic Forum in Davos. He currently chairs the advisory board of the Delhi School of Public Policy and Governance and has previously served on the advisory board of Singapore’s World Cities Summit.
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In addition to his work in economics and governance, Sanyal is a widely-read author, having published books such as Land of the Seven Rivers, Revolutionaries, The Ocean of Churn, India in the Age of Ideas, The Incredible History of the Indian Ocean, and The Indian Renaissance. His literary contributions have garnered recognition through awards including the Kalinga Book Award and the Skoch Award for Economics in 2023.
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