Al Jazeera English plans extensive election coverage in India

[Basil]

Al Jazeera English plans extensive election coverage in India ​

MUMBAI: With the Indian general election nearing, Al Jazeera English has firmed up plans to cover the elections extensively. In order to provide an in-depth analysis of India’s future both on TV and online, the channel has lined up an array of special coverage focused on the crucial issues of economy, food, health, corruption and security.

As part of the election coverage, Al Jazeera English will have six correspondents travelling across the country to report on what this election means for India and the world.

From across the political landscape, the channel will present a detailed report card on the main issues faced by Indians, profiling leaders and engaging voters’ expectations. Al Jazeera MD Al Anstey said, “India is the world’s biggest democracy and the country is diverse in opinion and sentiment.

Al Jazeera will attempt to reflect the voices of people ranging from the metropolitan hubs of Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad to the rural landscapes of Rajasthan and Kerala. Al Jazeera’s coverage will encompass TV, online and social media which will ensure real opinion, thought and voices are heard.” The coverage of the elections will be a mixture of news and programmes. Nidhi Dutt will be exploring the issue of food inflation and the impact on rice farmers in West Bengal.

Sohail Rahman will investigate the recent attack by Maoist rebels in Chattisgarh and talk about the internal security issues the government faces ahead of the general elections. Al JazeeraKarishma Vyas will travel to Gujarat, the home state of BJP leader Narendra Modi, who has been credited by some with transforming the state into an economic powerhouse, to look at the rise of Hindu nationalism.

Faiz Jamil will explore the people in Assam who are demanding a separate state called Bodoland, while Nidhi Dutt will be speaking to Suhas Chakma, a north-eastern Indian expert, on his views on alienation of north-east India from the mainland, what corruption costs the economy and the measures that should be taken to overcome that. Furthermore, Baba Umar and Kamal Kumar will be travelling the length and breadth of India speaking to the common man.

They will be focusing via multimedia on the concerns and hopes related to the elections, the parties and their candidates. Al Jazeera will also be airing special programmes leading up to election as Dutt will focus on health in a one-hour special, analysing the measures taken by the major political parties in India to provide healthcare facilities to the people of West Bengal. Al Jazeera’s ‘101 East’ will chart India’s campaign trail, with the BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi asking if he is the right man for modern India.

As social media will be playing a key role in the elections, the hashtags #AJIndia and #IndiaElections will be tracked by the online team and the social media programme ‘The Stream’. The channel’s flagship discussion programme ‘Inside Story’ will also debate the key election points before and after the vote.



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