News Broadcasting
No anti-incumbency against Siddaramaiah in Karnataka, says Congress leader Veerappa Moily at India Today Karnataka Panchayat
MUMBAI: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddarmaiah won’t have to contend with the anti-incumbency factor in the May assembly election, senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily said Saturday.
During a wide-ranging conversation with India Today’s Rajdeep Sardesai and Congress parliamentarian Mallikarjun Kharge at India Today Karnataka Panchayat 2018, Moily pointed out that the Congress had won by-elections in Karnataka and significantly improved its performance in local body polls.
Last year, the Congress won assembly bypolls in Gundlupet and Nanjangud despite an aggressive BJP campaign. And in the local body polls held the year before, it won well over 450 zilla panchayat seats – the lion’s share.
Meanwhile, Mallikarjun Kharge sounded equally confident. When he said the Congress would return to power with a “thumping majority,” there were echoes of the confidence Siddaramaiah himself showed during a recent India Today interview.
In fact, the chief minister even ruled out the possibility of a hung assembly.
Voters in Karnataka will head to the polls on May 12, and counting is scheduled for May 15.
If Siddaramaiah manages to retain his post, he will be the first man to do so since Ramakrishna Hegde’s third consecutive term as Karnataka’s leader ended in 1988.
News Broadcasting
News18 India launches Command Centre war explainer with Arya
New show shifts from debates to decoding global conflicts and impacts
MUMBAI: News18 India has rolled out a new war-focused programme, Command Centre, featuring Gaurav Arya, as it looks to offer viewers a sharper, more grounded take on global conflicts amid rising tensions in West Asia.
Positioned as an “insider war room”, the show moves away from conventional panel debates and instead focuses on explaining military developments, decoding strategy and connecting global events to their everyday impact, from fuel prices to economic shifts.
The format leans heavily on visuals and data. The studio has been designed like a command hub, complete with large LED war maps, real-time graphics and an alert system to track developments as they unfold.
At the centre of it all is Arya, who brings his military background to simplify complex war strategies for viewers. His signature line, “Seedhi baat samjhiye”, anchors the show’s promise of clarity over noise.
News18 India managing editor Jyoti Kamal said, “Command Centre, featuring Major Gaurav Arya is designed to deliver accurate insights and a clear perspective on how evolving conflicts impact everyday life, from household budgets to national security. With expert voices analysing every development in real time, the show goes beyond headlines to decode what’s happening now, what it means, and what could come next.”
Echoing the intent, Gaurav Arya added, “In times of war, confusion is the biggest threat. With News18 India’s Command Centre, we are bringing viewers inside the war room, decoding strategies, tracking every escalation, and explaining, in the simplest terms, what it means for India and for every household. Seedhi baat samjhiye, this is where you understand not just what is happening, but what happens next.”
The weekday show will air in the afternoon slot and will also feature Gaurav Shukla, adding to its editorial depth.
With its mix of analysis, visuals and a clear focus on impact, the show reflects a broader shift in news consumption. Viewers are no longer just watching events unfold, they are looking to understand what those events mean for them.
