News Broadcasting
News channels hoping for poll pull – Battle at the hustings for news channels in the run up to the assembly elections
Ever since the Election Commission (EC) announced last month that the assembly elections to the four states of Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan would be held on 1 December, all the leading news channels have been gearing up to “deliver the best”.
In a mad rush to impress upon their viewers that they are unmatched, news channels are promising on-ground surveys, in-depth interviews with politicians, viewers‘ opinions, weekly polls and even a common man representative to face the power-wielders.
As if the existing competition was not enough, a couple more channels have jumped into the fray in the recent months, possibly with the hope of leaning on election coverage to carve their niche. Yesterday (3 November) pubcaster Prasar Bharati resurrected its 24-hour news channel DD News. Not so long ago, on 17 October, Sahara Samay, rather strategically, launched its regional edition for Madhya Pradesh (MP) and Chhattisgarh.
While all eyes are on these new channels, established ones like NDTV, Aaj Tak, Star News and Zee News seem to be in no mood to lie low – they have been working overtime to sustain viewer interest.
And with every other channel promising to be the finest, fastest, smartest and the unrivalled, it is left to the unsuspecting viewer to figure out who is the fairest!
Who‘s showing what
Channels do have an impressive line up of initiatives to keep people across the country informed. What more – with innumerable analysis, surveys, news reports, talk shows and introspects on air, every possible arena of the forthcoming polls seems to have been covered. Here‘s a brief look at how every news channel is presenting the elections:
Considering that the assembly election is viewed as a build-up to the general election next year, Zee has started a daily programm called Singhasan Ka Semi Final across its prime-time news bulletins.
An interactive show MLA Ki Class is aired from Monday to Friday at 7.30 pm. Zee News editor Alka Saxena says, “Throughout this month, leading up to the elections, our reporters will visit each constituency through MLA Ki Class. Reporters will look at the problems faced by people in India and the burning issues. Zee News plans to cover over 200 constituencies through this exercise.”
Zee News is also doing a weekly poll across the four states Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh in Kaun Kitne Paani Mein on Sundays.
Netaji Kahin, another weekender, is a rapid fire volley of questions on a known leader from each state. The show, based on Aap Ki Adalat, looks at the people‘s perspective and investigates the leaders‘ performance since the last elections.
Kissa Kursi Ka, a daily half-our prime time programme invites two prominent leaders from opposing political parties for a discussion.
Star News‘ Kaun Banega Mukhyamantri (KBM), hosted by Vinod Dua, began its election special late night show, Kaun Banega Mukhyamantri – Aaj ki Baat, from 27 October. This one-hour show is telecast from Monday to Saturday at 11 pm. Aaj Ki Baat features a complete wrap up of the day‘s latest election news from the five states (including Mizoram which goes to polls on 20 November) readying for the polls.
 Vinod Dua in Kaun Banega Mukhyamantri, Star News |
Star News president, Ravina Raj Kohli says, “Elections are a people‘s event and it is for the first time, a news programme has really gone to the masses, visited remote areas – that are often just election stopovers for politicians – and brought the voice of the people to a national platform where the authorities are forced to listen.”
KBM also has its own symbol “reflecting the common man‘s agenda” – the humble ‘autorickshaw‘. The programme started its Auto Yatra in Delhi recently and travels to Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan to deal with ‘real people‘ and ‘real issues‘.
Star Plus says that via this yatra, it has made the politicians answer janta ke sawaal. Former Delhi chief minister Sahib Singh Verma, former minister for education in Delhi Harshwardhan and transport minister Ajay Maken, who are currently a part of the Delhi legislative assembly, have as yet been featured in the show. In Rajasthan, Congress leaders like Girija Vyas and BJP leaders like Gulab Chand Kataria were grilled. In Chhattisgarh, chief minister Ajit Jogi and other prominent leaders of this newly formed state were questioned. In MP, chief minister Digvijay Singh faced public queries.
Probably to focus more on quality than quantity, NDTV 24×7 is airing just one show Vote Matters on Sundays 10.30 am.
NDTV India has a 10-minute segment every night on 9 O‘clock News giving an insight into the elections. In Vote Yatra people voice their opinions and concerns on electoral activities. The show also broadcasts live the promises made by the candidates from their constituencies. It explores election campaigns, the preparations by respective parties. NDTV India Executive Editor Dibang hosts Vote Yatra at 8:30 pm on weekdays.
 Vote Matters on NDTV 24X7 |
Another interesting show is the half-hourly Khaberon ki Khabar-Votenama on weekdays at 9:30 pm. The show takes audiences through campaign trails of electoral candidates.
The channel airs its Chunav Vishesh – Monday to Friday at 8.30 pm. The shows cover extensively the states of Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Mizoram.
Finally, the channel‘s yet to release Battleground will discuss state by state the political scenario and which way the vote is likely to go. Reputed political analysts will appear in this show.
NDTV India also has some intersting vignettes on the elections. Ek Sawal as the name suggests has one question shot at two opposing candidates who have two to convince the voters as per their arguments. This two-minute vignettes will be telecast through out the day. Janta Bole is another public opinion vignettes of two to three minutes.
The two channels will have interviews with MLAs, public opinion polls, election forecasts, among other features through out the day.
News channel Aaj Tak is planning to launch a daily show Aaj Ka MLA from 15 November, as a part of its comprehensive plan for the forthcoming multi-state elections in the country. This daily programme is slated for 8 pm every day with repeat telecasts. The promos of the show are on air presently. Aaj Tak promises that Aaj Ka MLA will be the first-ever survey of its kind on television.
Sahara‘s two channels – Sahara Samay Rashtriya and Sahara Samay Madhya Pradesh and Chhatisgarh seem to be covering their constituencies rather thoroughly.
While Sahara Rashtriya is tackling serious problems in the northern states through its spokesperson Dharti Pakad, Sahara MP and Chhattisgarh has a line up of progammes concentrating on MP and Chhattisgarh.
Its daily fifteen minute show, Chunav Chakra, which now is being updated and telecast every hour, contains all election related activities of the two states. Shankhnad Chunav Sangram Ka is a one-hour show at prime time (8 to 9pm). This programme focuses on one burning issue everyday. One of the channel‘s on beat (OB) van has been converted into a multi-camera studio named Chunav Rath. The rath yatra which started from Bhopal today plans to cover the entire length and breadth of the two state, into the remote corners, live at least four times a day.
A team of journalists have accompanied the rath. The channel has other shows like Aapka MLA and Public Funda.
Doordarshan News: As for DD News, the channel hasn‘t finalised much on election coverage yet. According to DD officials, coverage would be done mostly by the regional kendras in the states where the elections are to be held. Some of it would be aired on DD News, but the final picture would emerge only after the candidates of various parties are finalised.
Creative juices flowing
Agreed that every channel is busy asserting the uniqueness of its own pre-election programme initiatives. Unfortunately for them, most shows (on most channels) do not seem too different from one another. Amid this sea of look-alikes, however, one can‘t ignore a few creative concepts.
 Print ad of Dharti Pakad on Sahara Samay |
* Dharti Pakad on Sahara Samay (Rashtriya): He is the television parallel of RK Laxman‘s Common Man. But there‘s a major aspect that separates Dharti Pakad from the Common Man. While the Common Man is the silent, victimized spectator, Dharti Pakad is a mocking, sarcastic individual who talks the language of the people and grills the politicians. A novel concept portrayed aptly by TV and film actor Sanjay Misra. Obviously, somebody at Sahara Samay has been thinking out of the box.
Also, the channel has gone all the way to advertise their character. Sahara Samay yesterday released a print ad promoting Dharati Pakad in one of India‘s leading newspapers.
* Aaj Ka MLA on Aaj Tak: This show, which will be launched soon on Aaj Tak, is based on an on-ground survey across 120 constituencies. Aaj Ka MLA will put the performances of various MLAs from various constituencies under a scanner, and thereby bring the relevant electoral issues to the fore.
According to Aaj Tak CEO G Krishnan, “In a large democracy like India, management of society is a collective responsibility. Aaj Ka MLA provides a snapshot of the collective feeling in a particular constituency thereby gauging the MLAs in terms of promises versus performances. The show will provide a complete picture.”
The Aaj Ka MLA survey will be based on extremely scientific methods, and has been conducted by research group ORG-MARG, a channel representative states. The findings of the survey will be supplemented by sound bites from the concerned MLA.
* Kaun Kitne Paani Mein on Zee News: Zee News has cashed its hope on what it calls the ultimate test for a party/leader. The channel has started conducting weekly polls across Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh to measure the shift in voting patterns. The channel has very teasingly christened the show Kaun Kitne Paani Mein.
Fine-tuning the system
When news coverage doubles, infrastructure has to improve too to keep pace. A number of news channels have taken that extra step of making additions in the staff, updating technology and fine-tuning the entire system for flawless coverage.
Zee TV has employed about two dozen reporters and fleet of stringers exclusively to cover the elections. According to a Zee News representative, the channel will devote approximately 20 per cent of its telecast time to election programming; and the coverage will only increase as the time goes by.
The channel plans to do at least two pre-poll survey. While Zee News has not roped in any particular celebrity to get more eyeballs, it doesn‘t rule out the idea of inviting celebrities – who have a say on election related social issues – on their shows.
While Sahara Samay, MP and Chhatisgarh, has seen no need to make additions in the infrastructure, head of the channel, Prabhat Dabral says, “We have hired a few researchers and some extra OB vans to bolster our
newsgathering in MP and Chattisgarh.” Dabral is confident that his channel is well-equipped with ultra-modern technology for input and output.
Dabral says, “We will have about 60 to 70 per cent of the programming devoted to elections in MP and Chattisgarh channel as the channel is dedicated to these states. There are a couple of such tie ups in the pipeline especially for content sharing with websites.” Dabral says his channel is driven by the power of their content. “However, we have hired Yashwant Deshmukh as our psephologist (one who studies political elections) in a show. He is already on air daily in one of our special programmes.”
News Broadcasting
Induction cooktop demand spikes 30× amid LPG supply concerns
Supply worries linked to West Asia tensions push households and restaurants to turn to electric cooking alternatives
MUMBAI: As geopolitical tensions in West Asia ripple through global energy supply chains, the familiar blue flame in Indian kitchens is facing an unexpected challenger: electricity.
What began as concerns over the availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has quickly evolved into a technology-driven shift in cooking habits. Households across India are increasingly turning to induction cooktops and other electric appliances, initially as a backup but now, for many, a necessity.
A sudden surge in demand
Recent data from quick-commerce and grocery platform BigBasket highlights the scale of the shift. According to Seshu Kumar Tirumala, the company’s chief buying and merchandising officer, demand for induction cooktops has risen dramatically.
“Induction cooktops have seen a significant surge in demand, recording a fivefold jump on 10 March and a thirtyfold spike on 11 March,” Tirumala said.
The increase stands out sharply when compared with broader kitchen appliance trends. Most appliance categories are growing within 10 per cent of their typical demand levels, while induction cooktops have witnessed explosive growth as households rush to secure an alternative cooking option.
Major e-commerce platforms including Amazon and Flipkart have reported rising searches and orders for induction stoves. Quick-commerce apps such as Blinkit and Zepto have also witnessed stock shortages in major metropolitan areas including Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
What was once considered a convenient appliance for hostels, small kitchens or occasional use has suddenly become an essential addition in many homes.
A crisis thousands of miles away
The trigger for this shift lies far beyond India’s kitchens.
Escalating conflict in the Middle East has disrupted shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. Nearly 85 to 90 per cent of India’s LPG imports pass through this narrow waterway, making the country particularly vulnerable to supply disruptions.
The ripple effects have been swift.
India currently meets roughly 60 per cent of its LPG demand through imports, and tightening global supply has already begun to affect domestic availability and prices.
Earlier this month, the price of domestic LPG cylinders increased by Rs 60, while commercial cylinders rose by more than Rs 114.
To discourage panic buying and hoarding, the government has also extended the mandatory waiting period between domestic refill bookings from 21 days to 25 days.
Restaurants feel the pressure
The strain is not limited to households. Restaurants, hotels and roadside eateries are also grappling with supply constraints as commercial LPG availability tightens under restrictions imposed through the Essential Commodities Act.
In cities such as Bengaluru and Chennai, restaurant associations report that commercial LPG availability has dropped by as much as 75 per cent, forcing many establishments to rethink their kitchen operations.
Some restaurants have reduced menu offerings, while others are rapidly installing high-efficiency induction systems, creating hybrid kitchens where electricity now shares the workload with gas.
For smaller eateries and roadside dhabas, the shift is less about sustainability and more about survival.
A potential structural shift
The government has maintained that there is no nationwide LPG crisis and has directed refineries to increase production to stabilise supply.
Nevertheless, the developments of March 2026 may already be triggering a longer-term behavioural shift.
For decades, LPG has been the backbone of cooking in Indian households. However, recent disruptions have highlighted the risks of relying on a single fuel source.
Increasingly, households appear to be hedging against uncertainty by adopting electric cooking options to guard against price volatility and delivery delays.
If the current trend continues, the induction cooktop, once viewed as a niche appliance, could emerge as a quiet symbol of India’s evolving kitchen economy.
