By IANS
Thiruvananthapuram : Congress president Sonia Gandhi will officially launch the Congress-supported Malayalam TV channel – Jai Hind TV – on Friday from New Delhi, a party official said.
Speaking to reporters here Sunday, Congress spokesperson M.M. Hassan said the event would be attended by leading party personalities from the state, including central ministers A.K. Antony and Vayalar Ravi.
Others who will attend will include Ramesh Chennithala, the Kerala unit Congress president, former chief minister Oommen Chandy as well as leading Malayalam film personalities like Mohanlal, Priyadarshan, Jagathi Sreekumar and Meera Jasmine.
The launch date – Aug 17 – coincides with ‘Chingam Onu’, considered by people of the state as an auspicious day to begin a new venture.
Jai Hind TV would be a 24-hour channel with emphasis on news and news-based programmes to begin with, said Hassan, who will also be director of the channel. The channel will be a joint venture between Bharath Broadcasting Network (BBN), Jai Hind Communications (JHC) and the Congress party.
Chennithala would be the chairman of the channel, said Hassan, adding that it would be an independent entity.
The project cost is pegged at Rs.500 million with Rs.100 million coming from the directors through limited sale of shares.