News Broadcasting
“In India religion is highly politicised” says Author & political commentator Mahmood Mamdani
Mumbai : Author & political commentator Mahmood Mamdani commented “In India minorities are defined as the religious groups, which are not Hindus. Religion is politicized, there are hundreds of minorities in India not only religious minorities but the rest of them have no significance politically. It is only the religious minority which is significant”.
Speaking at the second edition of “Ideas of India” Summit, Mamdani said, “I would caution not to exceptionalize the Nazi project. It was to purify Germany, to rid Germany of all minorities. The first minorities were the Jews but they were not the only minority, there were others. When the Nazi Party was defeated and Americans came in and the Nuremberg trials were held, there was no questioning of the political project of Nazis, they started identifying individual Nazis who committed war crimes. They reproduced the Nazi political project in Eastern Europe by throwing out ethnic minorities and in Germany itself, by not re-integrating jews in Germany.”
The ABP Network’s “Ideas of India” Summit 2023 focused on “The Nation State and its Permanent Minorities, From the United States to Israel.” The summit brought together policymakers, cultural ambassadors, industry experts, celebrities, and business leaders to discuss India’s critical role in the midst of global churn and shifting dynamics. Because ABP Network is a leading multi-language channel with 535 million people in India, this summit provides one of the largest platforms for the brightest minds from various sectors to express their perspectives.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 rolls out Battle for the States ahead of key polls
Multi-format election coverage tracks voter mood across five battleground states
NEW DELHI: CNN-News18 has launched a special election programming initiative titled Battle for the States, as India gears up for high-stakes Assembly elections across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry.
Built around the theme ‘Road to Power’, the multi-format coverage aims to follow the entire electoral journey, from campaigning and polling to results and government formation. The network is leaning into on-ground reportage and data-backed storytelling to decode voter sentiment across regions where local issues often shape the narrative.
The programming line-up includes ‘Vote Tracker’, a three-part series developed in collaboration with survey agency Vote Vibe. The show blends survey insights with expert commentary and field reporting, using augmented reality graphics to present complex electoral data such as vote share, seat projections and leadership preferences in a more accessible format. It will air every Monday evening until April 6.
Adding a cultural lens to political reporting is ‘So Saree!’, a ground-driven segment where women anchors travel across constituencies dressed in traditional handwoven sarees from each state. The format uses attire as a storytelling device, highlighting regional identity while capturing grassroots voices.
Meanwhile, ‘Unfiltered Kaapi’ and ‘Chai-Niti’ bring a more conversational tone, drawing inspiration from everyday political discussions in tea stalls and coffee corners. These segments aim to break down key issues through candid, fast-paced exchanges between anchors and reporters, tailored to regional sensibilities.
For viewers seeking deeper insights, the weekend docuseries ‘Reporters Project’ takes a longer view, with correspondents travelling across constituencies to map voter concerns and political shifts on the ground.
“Elections are about people, their aspirations, identities and the issues that matter to them, and every state tells a different story,” said CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar. He added that the initiative focuses on understanding “the sentiment on the ground and what’s driving voter choices”.
Echoing the emphasis on credibility, Network18 CEO – English and business news Smriti Mehra said the network aims to combine on-ground reporting with data-led insights to deliver clear and timely coverage as the elections unfold.
With a mix of data, culture and grassroots reporting, CNN-News18 is positioning Battle for the States as a comprehensive window into one of India’s most closely watched electoral cycles, where every vote carries a story waiting to be told.
