News Broadcasting
BJP spokesperson M A Naqvi
From being a junior minister to former information and broadcasting minister Sushma Swaraj few years back, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has come a long way to become one of the young Turks for the Hindu-dominated Bharatiya Janata Party, which has been accused to be having allegedly an agenda against the minorities of the country.
Though many had thought that the political career of this Muslim leader from Uttar Pradesh would be short-lived after he was shunted out of the government to the party, Naqvi has proved skeptics wrong. Not only has he risen up within the party ranks as one of the general secretaries and a party spokesperson, he was also nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the BJP soon after.
As part of an integral part of the media cell of the BJP, Naqvi is hopping from one TV studio to another these days in the run up to the general elections. In this interview with indiantelevision.com’s Anjan Mitra in his Delhi residence, Naqvi discusses some of the issues relating to the party’s media and communication strategy for the elections.
Excerpts:
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On the broad media strategy of the party for the general elections… |
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On the people behind the media strategy… On the type of media spend that has been that has earmarked for the general elections. The full budget is not yet ready and it’d be difficult also to put a figure to it. In our party such things work at various levels. There is a central media budget, while the state units have their separate funds too. Full information on this is still to come to the party headquarters. But I must point out that media speculations on the BJP’s advertising and media budget have put figures on the higher side. (A recent news report in a business daily had stated that BJP alone may end up spending close to one billion rupees on its media and communications plan) |
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On whether TV channels too would form an integral part of the plan… But, at this moment, the details of the channels have not been finalized as we are still awaiting a directive from the Election Commission and would also have to wait for the final outcome of the issue of advertising on the electronic medium. |
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On the break-up of media share of various segments |
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On the two major new areas being tapped for media… The second major area could be TV, if the controversies are ironed out. |
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On outside professional help being taken this time… |
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On whether surrogate advertising, targeting opposition politicians like Sonia Gandhi is in good taste… |
News Broadcasting
News18 hosts Tamil Nadu town hall ahead of 2026 polls
MK Stalin headlines ‘Next Big Leap’ event from 10am on 23 February in Chennai with leaders and icons.
MUMBAI: Tamil Nadu’s political pot is simmering and News18’s town hall is stirring it up just in time for the 2026 assembly elections boilover. Set for 23 February from 10am onwards in Chennai, the News18 Network Town Hall gathers heavyweights under the banner ‘The Next Big Leap for Tamil Nadu’ to dissect the state’s political pulse, economic edge, and cultural clout. With the 234-seat assembly contest looming as a fiercely competitive showdown, the event spotlights how Tamil Nadu’s identity-driven politics and engaged voters continue to ripple across national debates.
Chief minister MK Stalin leads the charge with a keynote on the theme, sketching his government’s blueprint for governance, development, and staying power pre-polls. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin chimes in on ‘Voices, Vision & Way Forward’, unpacking generational shifts and fresh narratives. From the opposition corner, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami tackles ‘Baton Change at the Ballot?’, floating alternatives to the status quo.
Economic vibes get a nudge from industries minister TRB Rajaa on ‘Investment Story Intact?’, probing the state’s draw for big bucks. BJP’s K Annamalai dives into ‘People, Trust & Political Ideology’, positioning his party in the Dravidian-dominated turf. IT Minister Palanivel ThiagaRajan explores ‘Code, Capacity & Citizenship’, on tech’s role in citizen-focused services. TVK’s KG Arunraj questions if ‘Winds of Change are Possible’ in this pattern-prone state.
A panel on innovation features IIT Madras director Prof V Kamakoti, M&M’s Velusamy R, and Electronic Industries Association’s Dr Sasikumar Gendham, musing how AI and knowledge hubs are remaking opportunities. AICC’s Praveen Chakravarty weighs ‘Power Sharing vs Principles’, while former Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan joins the fray. Culture gets its due with composer Anirudh Ravichander on ‘Tamil Music for the World’.
CNN-News18, editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar noted, “The News18 Network Tamil Nadu Town Hall… reflects our core editorial focus, to capture the political mood of the state and spotlight the ideas that will shape the next phase of governance and growth.”
Network18, CEO of English & business news Smriti Mehra added, “As Tamil Nadu moves closer to a defining electoral moment… we see it as our responsibility to drive informed and meaningful conversations.”
Network18 managing editor for South, Vivek Narayan said, “The News18 Network Townhall in Tamil Nadu is designed as a platform where policy, politics and public interest intersect.”
Backed by associate partners Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles and Reliance Industries, the live event streams on CNN-News18, News18 Tamil, CTV, and Youtube from 10am on 23 February perfect for catching the sparks, even if you’re not knee-deep in Dravidian drama.
