Days after publishing an essay critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration, policy expert Yamini Aiyar resigned from her position as president of the Centre for Policy Research.

Yamini Aiyar, a researcher and president of the Centre for Policy Research, resigned from her position on March 26, a few days after her critique of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership appeared in the Economic Times.

Aiyar’s opinion post, which was published on March 23, stated that “a dark shadow of creeping authoritarianism looms over India as it prepares for its 18th general election.” “Yamini Aiyar laments the damage done to Indian democracy under Narendra Modi” was the heading of the article.

She admitted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Narendra Modi, is expected to secure a third term in office. She nonetheless stated, “…his governance, built on aggressive centralisation, legitimised by a cult of personality and undergirded by an exclusionary Hindu-nationalist ideology, is eroding India’s democracy.”

She stated that “the space for the political opposition, media, academia and civil society to freely express their views is fast shrinking” .

Aiyar Yamini steps down

“Yamini Aiyar, President and Chief Executive of the Centre for Policy Research will step down from her current role as of 31st March 2024,” the Center for Policy Research announced in a statement a few days after the article was published.

She will “devote more time to her research interests,” according to the press release.

Aiyar has a large body of work published in both scholarly and popular journals. According to her online biography, she “writes regularly on current affairs and policy matters in mainstream Indian newspapers.”

As the new president and chief executive, the board named Dr. Srinivas Chokkakula, Senior Fellow CPR and Ministry of Jal Shakti Research Chair. The press statement stated, “He will assume the role with effect from April 1, 2024.”