News Broadcasting
BJP president JP Nadda shares the vision and election strategies with News18 interview
Mumbai: In an exclusive interview yesterday with News18 India. Hindi News Channel, BJP’s National president JP Nadda discussed various political dynamics and upcoming state elections. During the engaging conversation with Amish Devgan, managing editor – News18 UPUK, MPCG & Rajasthan; Nadda expressed confidence in the BJP securing a three-fourth majority in the upcoming Rajasthan assembly elections. He also outlined the party’s strategies to form governments in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
Nadda highlighted BJP’s strong prospects in Telangana as well, expressing determination to form a robust government in all the states. On the topic of fielding sitting MPs in assembly elections, Nadda emphasized that it is a strategic decision.
The conversation delved into the timing of recent ED raids, where Nadda asserted the need for immediate scrutiny in instances where large financial transactions are involved, as seen in the Mahadev App scandal.
Addressing the issue of caste-based census, Nadda clarified that it is driven by political motives rather than genuine concern for public welfare. He criticized the Congress party, stating that their sudden interest in the backward classes is opportunistic, accusing them of neglecting these communities for several years.
Responding to the allegations of promoting dynasty politics within the BJP, Nadda listed examples from various political parties, emphasizing that many prominent political families are active across the political spectrum.
Regarding the Shree Ram Mandir construction, Nadda dismissed the notion that it is being done with the intention to influence electoral outcomes, refuting the opposition’s viewpoint.
JP Nadda concluded by reasserting that the BJP is committed to governance based on development and public welfare, criticizing the Congress party for resorting to corruption whenever they are in power.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to air live counting day coverage for five state election results on May 4
The channel is rolling out its biggest election coverage machinery yet for results day on 4th May
NOIDA: The votes have been cast. Now comes the reckoning. CNN-News18 is pulling out all the stops for results day on 4th May, when counting begins across five battleground states — West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry — in what promises to be one of the most closely watched electoral verdicts in recent memory.
The channel’s coverage, titled Battle for the States: The Verdict, kicks off at 7am and runs through the day across linear TV, connected television and YouTube. It is the culmination of CNN-News18’s multi-format editorial initiative, Battle for the States, which has tracked the polls from the beginning under the theme Road to Power.
At the operational heart of the coverage will be the Live Results Hub, the channel’s central command centre built to collate, verify and process real-time data flowing in from reporters stationed at counting centres across constituencies. The hub combines newsroom intelligence, analytics and on-the-ground reporting to deliver what the channel promises will be the fastest and most accurate results coverage in English news.
Leading the on-air charge will be primetime anchors Rahul Shivshankar, Anand Narasimhan, Aman Sharma, Nabila Jamal and Shivani Gupta. They will be joined by a wide panel of commentators including author Chetan Bhagat; GVL Narasimha Rao, senior leader of the BJP; Smita Prakash, editor of ANI; activist Saira Shah Halim; political analyst Sumanth C Raman; Abhijit Iyer Mitra, senior fellow at IPCS; Amitabh Tiwari, founder of VoteVibe; columnist Abhijit Majumdar; Nalin Mehta, managing editor of MoneyControl; political analyst Tehseen Poonawalla; senior journalist Subir Bhaumik; and political analyst Manojit Mandal.
Shivshankar, who serves as editorial affairs director at CNN-News18, set out the stakes plainly. “Counting day is one of the most watched events in the electoral cycle, where speed and credibility are tested in real time,” he said. “Battle for the States: The Verdict is built on that promise, combining ground reporting, sharp analysis and cutting-edge election technology to give viewers the clearest and fastest route to the verdict. On May 4, CNN-News18 will once again be the nation’s most trusted channel to witness democracy in action.”
Smriti Mehra, chief executive of English and Business News at Network18, framed the coverage in broader terms. “Elections are defining national events, and audiences turn to brands they trust in moments that matter,” she said. “CNN-News18 has consistently led from the front in every election coverage, and this special programming reflects the scale of our ambition and editorial strength.”
The channel has form here. It claims to have been India’s most preferred English news destination for election results for the past 20 years, covering everything from the 2024 general elections to the Delhi, Maharashtra, Bihar and BMC polls on the back of what it calls an “Always First, Always Right” record. Five states, one day, and a nation waiting for answers. The clock starts at 7am on 4th May.
