News Broadcasting
‘Maharashtra is the Growth Engine of India’, says Maha CM Ekanth Shinde
Mumbai : The growth of Maharashtra will lead to the growth of India, as Maharashtra is India’s growth engine, said Maharashtra chief minister, Eknath Shinde.
Speaking at ABP Network’s second edition of the ‘Ideas of India’ summit on the topic of ‘Gateway of India – Reorienting the City by the Sea’, he said, “Maharashtra must and will contribute to the PM’s dream of five trillion dollars economy. Maharashtra has to work hard and achieve at least $1 trillion.”
In the session, Shinde discussed the measures taken by the Maharashtra government for the progression of the state. “Maharashtra has a huge potential for industrial development. We have infrastructure, connectivity, land and quality man-power, despite of this people were not coming.” To in-build trust amongst industries, he said that “we went and told the industry that we will support them in every way.” That has created a trust in the industry and in a few months we will “see industry coming in and this will generate employment.” The Chief Minister reiterated that, “We have removed all hurdles of growth in the state to fast track progress.”
On being asked about his relation with the centre, he explained, “We are getting enough support from the centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for development. We have even signed 137000 crore MoUs.” The Chief Minister also announced that 5000 km of access controlled highways were being built in the state to connect different cities with Maharashtra.
The summit promises an invigorating line-up of speakers with prominent figures from the world of business, politics, artists from the Hindi Film Industry, authors and other eminent sectors. The two-day conference confluences diverse ideas from various industries to promote India in becoming a burgeoning leader in the world.
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.
