In a bid to maiatain relevance in Telangana post bifurcation, the Reddy community that dominated local politics till recently is gearing up to have a voice of its own in the form of a Telugu newspaper.
The newspaper is set to hit the market by Ugadi in March this year. Some entrepreneurs from the Reddy community who are the promoters of the new daily feel that with a newspaper in their arsenal, their community can make efforts to mould public opinion, maintain relevance in the state politics and emerge as kingmakers.
Interestingly, a Telangana minister and some others from the Reddy community have taken the initiative in launching the newspaper.
The minister is learnt to have invested a signifi cant amount of money in the venture. In addition to the minister, nearly a dozen Reddy bigwigs have reportedly come forward to put their money in the newspaper. In all, the newspaper is reportedly getting ready for launch with an initial investment of Rs 50 crore.
The new newspaper title has been registered and the new management is in the process of acquiring offi ce space, printing machines and other equipment from an existing newspaper which is winding up its operations in Telangana. The title of the newspaper that is being wound up is not being used as it bears the word Andhra in its title.
A senior journalist and a journalist union leader have been chosen as the editors.
Another senior scribe has been chosen as an executive editor.
The Reddy community has been dominant in united Andhra Pradesh, which was headed by 10 chief ministers from the community in the past 58 years. Having lost the glory and with fears of being sidelined, some politicians from the community came up with the idea of owning a newspaper to protect their interests.
Though there are half a dozen major Telugu newspapers in Telangana, the ownership of dailies such as Eenadu and Andhra Jyothi is in the hands of people from the Kamma community while Namaste Telangana is owned by members of Velama community. Sakshi is the only newspaper owned by a Reddy.
“Majority of Kammas belong to residual Andhra Pradesh and their presence is very less in Telangana while the Reddy community comprises about 6% per cent of Telangana's population,“ a Telangana Reddy politician said. Although Sakshi newspaper is owned by a Reddy from the Rayalaseema region, Telangana Reddys want a newspaper of their own.
The present Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government is headed by leaders from the Velama community.
Some Reddy community industrialists and politicians opine that there is an urgent need for starting a newspaper to empower their own community and re-emerge as a force to reckon with.
“A regional newspaper is one of the primary tools to gain political dominance at the regional level,“ a Reddy leader, belonging to Congress told TOI.
Source: TimesOfIndia
