Chennai
Both channels upped their ante against the ruling government during their coverage, which convergent views, demanding that Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) tender his resignation. Except for the difference in the logo and the colour schemes, the content was more or less equivalent, while the tone and tenor of anchors and field journalists hinted that the state was accountable for Anitha’s suicide.
In fact, in a first, Jaya Plus recorded the visit of the Opposition leader and the DMK Working President MK Stalin paying his last respects to Anitha. During the lifetime of the late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, coverage centred only around her. The focus shifted to VK Sasikala, who was appointed as interim general secretary of the party and who also holds 81 per cent of shares in the group.
On the other hand, Kalaignar Seithigal, did not record the AIADMK deputy general secretary TTV Dinakaran’s visit of pay homage to Anitha. Kalaignar Seithigal, a mouthpiece of the DMK, would take on the state, whenever the party found its place in the Opposition in the Assembly. Interestingly, after Sasikala’s conviction, Jaya Plus shifted its focus to Dinakaran, while giving some space for the State-sponsored events, including events attended by EPS.
However, the content of the CM’s programmes and other state celebrations was completely blacked out, following the announcement made by the ruling dispensation to disavow TTV and the subsequent move of taking former CM O Panneerselvam on board with the government and the party.
— R Prince Jebakumar, Chennai
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