The recommendation made by some of the ministers in the cabinet sub-committee to have a separate daily and television channel for the Congress party to restore its lost glory in the state has kicked up a wider debate in the media circles.

One wonders whether having its own media house would be of any help to the Congress party. First of all, it is a misconception that the people are influenced by the media reports and change their opinion towards any political party.

Though the media has a very powerful role in moulding public opinion, it will definitely not influence the voting pattern. The voters take into consideration the ground realities and their understanding of the situation while exercising their franchise.

The ministers apparently expressed view that YSR Congress party president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy was able to convey to the people that all the schemes that are being implemented in the state were YSR schemes and not the Congress party schemes, only through his media house Sakshi. Since the Congress party does not have its own media, it could not counter the propaganda. But the ministers have forgotten the fact that the government has a huge publicity infrastructure in the form of Information and Public Relations Department, through which it can do extensive publicity for the ruling party schemes. And moreover, it is not the publicity but the actual implementation of the schemes that would bring the people closer to the Congress party.

After all, the two pro-TDP dailies – Eenadu and Andhra Jyothy – could not bring the TDP back to power in 2004 despite giving huge publicity for Chandrababu Naidu!