BJP to launch Telugu news channel

MUMBAI: Taking a cue from other political parties in Andhra Pradesh, the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) is planning to launch its own Telugu news channel christened Orange TV in order to take its ideology to the common people and counter propaganda of TV channels run by other political outfits.

The political outfit, which wants to establish a foothold in the state, is planning to invest Rs 2.5 million in building a facility at the party?s four-storied state office building.

"The channel will provide a platform to people to debate the party?s political ideology and promote value-based politics in society," BJP state unit president Kishan Reddy has been quoted as saying.

"The BJP and more than 60 organisations that share its ideology hope that Orange TV will help them send messages and thoughts directly to their viewers and may even consolidate and improve their vote bank by 2014."

Andhra Pradesh has a plethora of political-agenda driven media platforms which includes T channel run by sympathisers of Telangana Rashtra Samiti. YSR Congress, the breakaway faction of Congress party, runs Sakshi TV owned by its president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy.

The influx of political agenda driven channels has forced India?s leading television network Zeel to exit Andhra Pradesh market by shutting down operations of its Telugu news channel Zee 24 Ghantalu.