AIADMK mouthpiece called ‘Namadhu Amma’ likely to be launched on Jaya’s birthday

Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi Palaniswami and deputy CM O Panneerselvam have decided to launch their party’s own media wing, a channel and a newspaper, as per a report by Julie Mariappan in The Times of India. 

The newspaper called 'Namadhu Amma' is likely to be launched on former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s birthday on February 24. 

Sources told ToI that the party-sponsored television channel will see its launch on April 14, which happens to be Tamil New year day.

The party’s own mouthpiece is being launched to make the achievements of the government known, as it feels it is not getting enough media attention. 

Party sources say CM Edapaddi is irked that TTV Dhinakaran has been getting more media space in recent weeks and wants to counter that. 

"He could not enter the party headquarters nor Poes Garden for a decade, after Amma expelled him. We get two minutes on channels, whereas he gets 40 minutes. What is the meaning of this?” the CM asked while talking to reporters in Salem. 

Dhinakaran’s family already controls Namadhu MGR and Jaya TV. 

The CM and his colleagues have been planning a media house of their own for some time, the report states. 

Rumours are that Marudhu Alaguraj, the former editor of Namadhu MGR, who got the boot for writing critical pieces on BJP, will be the chief of the new daily. 

As many as 56 staff members shown the door by Sasikala’s family in December are likely to be included in Namadhu Amma, the report says. 

Alaguraj said the "party organ would act like a rampart and a weapon to retaliate." 

Meanwhile, AIADMK spokesman Vaigai Selvan said that the party was moving ahead with new strength after the assembly session. 

"There was a buzz that TTV's debut in the House would trigger some developments. Neither was there a welcome for him nor wishes. There were no 'sleeper cells' as claimed by TTV. We learned our lessons in RK Nagar and we will face local body polls," the former minister said.