All about Amma TV, Namathu Amma: AIADMK's new mouthpieces
Without any mouthpiece of its own, Tamil Nadu's ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) will soon launch a Tamil newspaper, Namathu Amma, and a television channel that is likely to be called Amma TV. The announcement was made during a meeting of AIADMK legislators, convened by CM Edappadi Palaniswami and his deputy Panneerselvam ahead of the January 8 assembly session.
Namathu Amma to counter political opponents, inform about welfare schemes
Namathu Amma will serve as the AIADMK's mouthpiece, reported the New Indian Express. It will inform about government's welfare schemes and counter political opponents. Work on its launch has been going on for a few months now. The daily will hit the stands either on the birth anniversary of AIADMK founder MG Ramachandran (January 17) or on that of late CM Jayalalithaa (February 24).
Why does AIADMK need new media outlets?
The AIADMK's erstwhile mouthpieces of several years, newspaper Namathu MGR and Jaya TV network, are now under the control of jailed leader VK Sasikala and her relatives. The daily and the television channel have become overtly critical of the ruling party ever since Sasikala and her nephew TTV Dhinakaran were sidelined within the AIADMK. Meanwhile, work on launching new channel Amma TV is underway.
AIADMK appoints 12 media spokespersons
The AIADMK on Wednesday also appointed 12 spokespersons, now the only people authorized to represent it on television debates/discussions and in print media. These include veteran leader C Ponnaiyan, Namathu Amma's editor Marudhu Alaguraj and B Valarmathi. The move aims to restrict the popular practice among AIADMK functionaries of airing contradicting views in the media, often resulting in confusion and embarrassment for the party.
