While CPI(M) seems to believe in the impact of visual media and has launched television channels in its strongholds, West Bengal and Kerala, the CPI apparently has more faith in the power of the printed word. The party is planning to launch a multi-edition Hindi daily — Janyug — to revive its influence in the Hindi belt. Editions for the daily are planned in Lucknow, Patna, Jaipur and Delhi.With the Communists being unable to tide over caste politics and dominance of regional parties, the party’s fortunes had taken a plunge in the Hindi heartland. “We once had eight Lok Sabha seats in Bihar and five in UP. Until we reach out to people directly, it is difficult to revive our influence,” said a senior CPI leader. The idea is to make people read the newspaper and not merely subscribe to it as a party organ. “A daily in the form of party bulletin just cannot compete in the market. It has to have a professional set-up. We anyway have a weekly for party news,” the leader said.“Janyug will cover the activities of other parties as well," he added. Party leaders said the daily will have an independent editorial board and also a chief executive officer. “It (the daily) will be registered as a separate company though trusts run by the party, and mass organisations like AITUC, Kisan Sabha will have stakes,” another senior CPI leader told The Indian Express.Interestingly, CPI general secretary A B Bardhan or any other party functionary will not hold any editorial post. The party is reportedly in talks with two top journalists for the posts of CEO and editorial advisor.Though CPI owns a publishing house, the party intends to outsource printing of the daily to a private firm. The draft of the project is ready and will be presented before the National Executive of the CPI to be held here on July 12-13 for approval. “Once we get the approval, we will hopefully bring out the paper by November this year,” the leader said.The party has had a daily by the same name published from Delhi for around 18 years. It was wrapped up in 1991. The party at present has dailies in Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, Bangla and Punjabi. None of the major political parties in the country own a national daily so far, and the CPI’s attempt could well set a precedent.
