News Broadcasting
Network18 & Viacom18 dole out 100% variable pay to employees
KOLKATA: Amid the second wave of the Covid2019 crisis, many organisations are taking initiatives for the well-being of their workforce. Even as several news and media enterprises are slashing salaries or resorting to mass lay-offs, Network18 and Viacom18 has paid all eligible employees the variable portion of remuneration for the last appraisal year ahead of schedule.
It is to be noted that this measure of variable payout is not related to performance ratings this year.
This financial relief is in addition to the media group’s drive to get its employees and their families vaccinated against Covid.
“This gesture of 100 per cent variable payout irrespective of performance this year is a small token of the company’s appreciation of your efforts during these challenging times,” Network18 managing director Rahul Joshi wrote in an internal email to employees.
In the email, Joshi also requested them to take better care of their health, and to refrain from taking unnecessary risks to prevent health hazards. He also asked employees to reach out to each other, and to the organisation in case of any emergency.
News Broadcasting
UDF poised to return to power in Kerala, says Manorama-CVoter survey
Massive opinion poll projects shift in Kerala politics ahead of 2026 Assembly elections.
MUMBAI: The winds of change appear to be blowing through Kerala’s political landscape and this time, they seem to favour the United Democratic Front. A comprehensive mega opinion survey conducted by Manorama News in partnership with CVoter projects a potential comeback for the UDF in the upcoming Kerala Legislative Assembly Elections 2026. The survey, covering all 140 constituencies with a massive sample size of nearly 90,000 respondents, predicts the UDF could win between 69 and 81 seats.
The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) is expected to secure 57 to 69 seats, a significant drop from the 99 seats it won in the 2021 elections. This would mean the LDF losing 30 to 42 of its sitting seats. Meanwhile, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which drew a blank in 2021, is projected to open its account with 1 to 5 seats.
Region-wise, the UDF is expected to make strong gains in Malabar, winning 25 to 34 out of 48 seats, and in Central Kerala, where it could bag 29 to 33 out of 53 seats. In South Kerala, the LDF is likely to retain an edge with 21 to 25 seats, while the UDF may improve to 12 to 16 seats. The NDA could pick up 1 to 3 seats in the southern region.
The survey was conducted between 14 and 26 March 2026, with additional tracker and snap polls carried out from December 2025 to March 2026. A total of 89,693 respondents participated, ensuring representation across all demographics and social segments.
Manorama News has a strong track record of accuracy, with its previous projections closely matching the actual results of the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha elections as well as the 2021 Kerala Assembly polls.
In Kerala’s famously fierce political battles, this survey suggests the pendulum may be swinging back. Whether the final verdict matches these numbers or throws up another surprise, one thing is clear, the 2026 Assembly elections are shaping up to be one of the most keenly watched contests in the state’s history.
