News Broadcasting
Rajeev Chandrasekhar steps down from Republic TV board
MUMBAI: Rajeev Chandrasekhar, after being sworn in as BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP on Tuesday, has resigned from the board of directors of ARG Outlier Asianet News Pvt Ltd, the company that owns Republic TV.
The media owner-turned-politician resigned from his position on March 31.
“I have taken this decision because of my recent joining of [the] BJP and being elected as a BJP MP. As you are aware, from 2006 I have been in public life as an Independent MP and not a member of any political party. Since I am now a member of the BJP, I believe it is in the best interest of Republic TV’s brand and team that I no longer serve on the board,” reads a press statement issued by Chandrasekhar on Monday.
It goes on to state, “In my career as an investor and entrepreneur, I have had the privilege of investing and building several successful companies and brands. The Media Tech investment in Republic ranks high amongst my many investments and it has been a pleasure to witness first-hand the amazing journey and growth over the first year of this exciting Media Tech Brand and company under the leadership of Arnab and his team.”
On March 12, Chandrasekhar joined the BJP a day after the party nominated him as their candidate in the Rajya Sabha election, which was held on March 23. Prior to joining the BJP, Rajeev has been a Rajya Sabha MP twice before, first in 2006 and then in 2012 as an independent candidate. He got the support of the BJP and JD(S) on both occasions.
Republic TV went on air on 6 May 2017.
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News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to host Kolkata Town Hall on Hooghly River
‘Bhalobasa Bengal Inspiring Bharat’ event on April 20 brings cultural icons, trailblazing women and leaders aboard a cruise to celebrate Bengal’s enduring influence.
MUMBAI: Bengal is about to make fresh waves on the Hooghly and this time the current is pure conversation. CNN-News18 is taking its iconic Town Hall format to the waters of the iconic Hooghly River on 20 April 2026 with a special edition titled ‘Bhalobasa Bengal – Inspiring Bharat’. The floating event will celebrate the state’s rich cultural legacy and how its ideas, creativity and spirit continue to shape the rest of the country.
The unique riverside setting draws on Bengal’s history as a cradle of reform, art and intellectual thought. The speaker line-up mirrors that diversity: cultural heavyweights Mithun Chakraborty and Sreenanda Shankar will share the stage with trailblazing “Devis” such as Tanya Sanyal (India’s first woman firefighter in aviation), Ipsita Chakraborty (Kolkata’s first woman bartender) and Reshma Nilofer Visalakshi (Nari Shakti awardee and marine pilot). Music will flow through the celebrated pianist-vocalist duo Sourendro and Soumyojit, while public life and governance will be represented by Smriti Irani, Leander Paes, Saira Shah Halim, Keya Ghosh, Rekha Patra, Roopa Ganguly and Babul Supriyo.
CNN-News18, editorial affairs director, Rahul Shivshankar, said the event honours voices that carry Bengal’s legacy forward. Smriti Mehra, CEO – English & Business News, Network18, added that Bengal’s stories resonate far beyond its borders, especially as the state heads into polls.
From the first woman to battle flames in the skies to legendary actors who shaped Indian cinema, the gathering promises a rich mix of inspiration, courage and candid dialogue. In a city where culture has always flowed as freely as the river itself, CNN-News18 is turning the Hooghly into a floating forum for ideas that matter.
Tune in on 20 April on CNN-News18, CTV and YouTube to catch Bengal’s heartbeat in full flow.
