It’s an experiment with powerful mass media which if successful could be implemented all over India by Congress.
The party is all set to launch “Jaihind TV”, the first channel in the country actively backed by it, in politically-hot Kerala, and depending on its performance, would back the launch of similar channels in other states too.
In fact, even as Jaihind TV would be formally launched by Congress president Sonia Gandhi at a mega function in Delhi on the Malayalam new year day (Chingam 1st) on August 17, work is already on towards launching a similar channel in Tamil Nadu.

The gameplan followed in Tamil Nadu would be similar with that being followed in Kerala, with rich NRIs originally belonging to the respective states providing the bulk of the funding, while Congress would also hold some stake, party sources said here on Tuesday.

KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala, who is also the president of Jaihind TV, said the long-term “vision” was to launch similar channels in other languages also. “It is the first time that a state unit of Congress is doing anything like this. We have financial stake in the channel,” he said.

Indication that the channel, which Mr Chennithala said would be aimed at the “global Malayalee” and would have an “independent viewpoint” despite being backed by Congress, would be a test case for the possibility of launching similar endeavours in other states comes from the fact that it also would have Hindi and English news bulletins after a few months of launch.

“Though Kerala PCC has a major stake in the channel, it will take an independent and unbiased stand on news and current affairs telecast,” he said, refusing to divulge how much stake the party has in the channel which is a joint venture between NRI Aniyankutty-led Bharat Broadcasting Network and Congress-backed Jaihind Communications.

Star wars
And yes, if it is in south India, can star power be fat behind when politics comes closer to the visual media?
Quite clearly no, as Malayalam superstar Mohanlal, has lent his name to “Jaihind TV” along with other stars like Meera Jasmine and director Priyadarshan of “Hera Pheri” fame.

This could be, in fact, be just the beginning of another round of star wars in Kerala as the state’s other superstar, Mammootty, is a member of the advisory body of CPM backed channel Kairali.