Political Battle or Media War?

Instead of a fight between political parties, the coming by-elections in Kadapa district have turned out to be a full-blown war between two media groups—“Eenadu” and “Sakshi” headed by Ch Ramoji Rao and Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy respectively.

The by-polls have provided a platform for the media battle to expose each other’s “ill-gotten” wealth. A day after “Eenadu” carried a flurry of front page stories on Jagan’s benami properties and detailed how he had amassed huge wealth during YSR’s regime, “Sakshi” spewed venom on its bete noir and wondered how a businessman dealing in pickles could build a massive financial empire.

In a vitriolic attack on Ramoji Rao, “Sakshi” ran a banner story on how the media baron has been running a vicious campaign against YSR’s family while keeping mum on Telugu Desam Party supremo N Chandrababu Naidu’s illegal web of wealth. “Jagan’s greatness lies in the fact that he had sold his assets to pay taxes. On the other hand, Ramoji has been evading taxes and amassing wealth,” the report, provocatively titled “Literally, Yellow Poison”, said.

The daily pointed out that Ramoji had paid an Income Tax of just Rs 52,000 despite sitting pretty over massive properties and businesses.

“Ramoji is the only business tycoon in the state who has a helipad attached to his house,” the report claimed and asked how much tax did he pay for the generous funds he had received from Reliance Group.

While “Eenadu” has been carrying a string of stories on Jagan’s assets and dubious business and land deals, “Sakshi” is targeting Ramoji Rao and Chandrababu Naidu.

Under a screaming headline “Concealing the loot”, “Eenadu” ran a banner story on Saturday saying the assets declared by Jagan in his affidavit submitted to the Election Commission were only a tip of an iceberg.

The former MP has concealed several properties owned by him, the report said and sought to give details of how he presides over a web of deceit, illegal funds flow and dubious business deals.

The affidavit is silent on the mansions he owns in Hyderabad and Bangalore, worth several hundred crores, the daily pointed and went on to give details of the palatial building coming up at the posh Banjara Hills in Hyderabad where the land cost itself stood at Rs 24 crore.