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TV commentator Siddhu joins BJP
NEW DELHI: After India’s finance minister unleashed the sop opera in the run-up to the general elections, now comes the soap opera.
Not content with film actors and television stars joining the party, the king of one-liners, former cricketer and TV commentator Navojot Singh Siddhu, is the latest arsenal in the war-chest of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is seeking another term at the Centre during the elections.
With BJP’s ace strategist Pramod Mahajan, another one very good with one-liners, beside him, Siddhu today announced his decision to join politics and immediately let go of some bouncers.
”A true leader like Atal is one who turns weakness into strength and obstacles into opportunities,” Siddhu quipped today when asked to describe the leadership of Prime Minister Atal B. Vajpayee.
According to United News of India (UNI), Siddhu went on to praise the ideology of the BJP and the leadership of Vajpayee as “Kushboo to hawa ke sath jati hai, lekin insani khusboo har disha mein jati hai (fragrance goes in the wind’s direction but human fragrance spreads in all directions).”
Siddhu equated BJP as a party like a rock. ”BJP chattan ki taraah Atal hai,” he mouthed, while expressing regard and respect towards the leadership of the BJP, UNI reports.
Siddhu is part of the cricket commentary team of Ten Sports that would go to Pakistan for the forthcoming Indo-Pak cricket series.
Meanwhile, small time TV and film actor Gajendra Chauhan — his claim to fame is playing Yudhistir in Doordarshan’s famous Mahabharata serial in the late 1980s and early 1990s — too has decided to join the political fray and the BJP. Film star Suresh Oberoi has already announced his decision to join the BJP.
Not to be left behind, the Congress Party is also contemplating roping in some TV and film stars like Raza Murad and Govinda. The Delhi unit of the Congress has even suggested to the party leadership that it should consider cricket legend and occasional TV show host, Kapil Dev, as a potential candidate for a Lower House seat in the forthcoming elections.
In the coming days, there would be many more film and TV artistes who are likely to join some political parties.
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Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
