‘Mannargudi Mafia’ Still Controls AIADMK Media Assets: OPS-EPS duo launch New TV Channel Called News J 

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam launched News J television channel, which is widely expected to operate as a mouthpiece of AIADMK's ruling faction, The Hindu reported.

The channel's website, news app and YouTube channel, were launched in September by the duo.

For close to two decades, Jaya TV served as the official propaganda arm of the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu and was seen as a rather amateurish counter the powerful reach of Sun Network owned by the DMK family. However, the situation changed when the AIADMK split into two factions - one led by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and the other by V K Sasikala in August 2016.

Both the key media assets - Jaya TV and Namadhu MGR - are under the complete control of VK Sasikala's family members. Thus, In February, Namadhu Amma was launched as the daily party mouthpiece of the ruling AIADMK faction.

Speaking at the launch of the channel, CM Palaniswami said that the television channel started by former chief minister J Jayalalithaa after much effort had been appropriated by a “selfish gang”.

Deputy CM Panneerselvam said that News J would work towards realising the ideals of ‘Peace, Prosperity, Progress’, laid down by Jayalalithaa.