While the Left battles on against the Congress over foreign experts on the Planning Commission’s panel, it is in damage control mode in Kerala over a foreign consultant allegedly involved with its People’s Plan campaign. CPI(M) politburo member V.S. Achuthanandan said the party would probe allegations against Dr Thomas Isaac, state Planning Board member during LDF rule, that he utilised the services of foreign consultant Richard Franke for the campaign. Isaac, now a member of the Commission’s advisory body, had come out strongly against the induction of foreign consultants in the review panel.Contrary to reports, Franke was not a consultant for the People’s Plan. A professor at Montclair University, Franke was only associated with a study — Decentralisation in the Health Sector — on the sidelines of the Plan. The University’s site apparently claimed he was a consultant for the campaign in Kerala which led to the offensive against the Left. CPI(M) hardliners are now believed to be using the issue to target Isaac. ‘‘All these are manipulations aimed at ousting Isaac from the party,’’ a CPI(M) leader said. ‘‘There are some factual errors in the campaign against the People’s Plan.’’ —ENS
