Media circles are agog with rumours that senior journalist Kommineni Srinivasa Rao, Chief Editor of popular Telugu television channel NTV, is likely to join Sakshi television channel sooner or later.
Kommineni, who has become popular with his morning live show titled “Live with KSR,” has not been seen in the debates for the last couple of days.
Though sources close to Kommineni say he has not been keeping good health of late due to tremendous stress and hence, has taken break for a few days, inside information is that he is on his way out.
Apparently, his open stand in favour of YSR Congress party president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy in the recent Amaravati land dealing exposure incident, has not gone down with the channel management.
In fact, NTV was a strong supporter of Jagan till 2014 elections, but equations have changed after the Telugu Desam Party came to power in Andhra Pradesh.
Channel chairman Narendra Chowdary had become closer to the powers-that-be in Andhra Pradesh and hence, Kommineni’s fearless attack on the Chandrababu Naidu government has not been taken kindly by the management.
Apparently, Chowdary had been under pressure from Telugu Desam Party national general secretary Lokesh Naidu to show the exit door to Kommineni.
Interestingly, Kommineni was also a strong votary for the TDP when he was in Eenadu till 2004, by virtue of his community. He was, in fact, considered to be part of the Naidu’s think tank. But somehow, he changed his stand later and had favoured Y S Rajasekhar Reddy and later, Jaganmohan Reddy.
Sources said the Sakshi management had approached Kommineni and offered him a good package to be part of the editorial board. Let us see how far these rumours are correct.
