Political parties banking on their own media

Talking about ‘Murasoli’, Stalin says it is “a weapon in our hands”

They look like minnows among titans. And one may wonder what the role and relevance of these party newspapers will be in the ever-expanding world of mainstream media.

Leaders of political parties in Tamil Nadu, however, contend that nothing can as effectively strike a chord with their cadre like a party organ and convey the party line on issues. Almost all political parties own a newspaper, and the wealthier among them have satellite channels in the State. While party organs are on the fringes, these satellite channels occupy a place in the mainstream.

“

Murasoli is a weapon in our hands,” said DMK treasurer and chairman of the

Murasoli Trust M.K. Stalin when asked about the newspaper’s relevance.

Launched as a manuscript magazine by DMK chief M. Karunanidhi, it is run mostly on non-profit lines and is sustained by subscriptions. A well-established distribution system and party organisation ensures that

Murasoli reaches every nook and corner of the State.

“Our motive is not profit making. We have life-subscriptions and most of our agents are partymen. Our leader reaches out to every party leader and worker at the grass-root level through the paper,” said Mr Stalin.

Another party organ that is being run more on professional lines but without deviating from the party line is the CPI(M)’s

Theekkathir. It has editions in Chennai, Madurai, Tiruchi and Coimbatore, a feat for a political party with a limited supporting base.

“That universities and colleges send their students to do internship in Theekkathir speaks for its standing in the field of journalism,” said A. Kumaresan, editor, in-charge-of the Chennai edition of the party organ. The daily is also sustained by subscriptions and only 15 per cent of its circulation is outside the party circle.

The CPI brings out Janasakthi , first launched in 1938, under the editorship of late Jeevanadam. It was re-launched as a daily in 2005.

“As the media is under the grip of the corporate world, the working class finds a voice in party organs such as Janasakthi, ” said C. Mahendran, senior CPI leader. As newspapers of political parties depend on government advertisements for revenue, even a slight provocation can lead to cancellation of advertisements, he said.

The Congress once had newspapers such as Swadesamitran and Navasakthi. “When G.K. Moopanar was at the helm of affairs, Navasakthi became a daily under the editorship of writer Jayakanthan,” recalls A. Gopanna, who functioned as its executive editor, who continues to run Desiyamurasu .

Navasakthi was re-launched as a weekly in 1997 when Tamil Maanila Congress was born. But, it again closed down in 2000.

The ruling AIADMK is running Dr. Namadhu MGR , the MDMK runs Sangoli , Vijayakant’s DMDK depends on Captain TV and the PMK banks on Makkal Tholaikkatchi as it could not manage its organ Tamil Osa i profitably.