Family problem

The media speculates on whether Sharad Pawar’s nephew, Ajit Pawar, or daughter, Supriya Sule, will inherit his mantle. Most forget there is another Pawar, nephew Abhijit Pawar, also in the reckoning in the NCP’s power structure. Abhijit is managing director of the Sakal group of newspapers. The publishing house last month launched an English edition from Pune. The Sakal group has ambitious expansion plans. It has bought two Goa newspapers and plans to open English editions from several cities. The Pawar family could learn from the experience of the DMK. Karunanidhi’s sons led the party, while his nephews, the Marans, managed the media empire. The two branches of the family fell out over the control of the latter. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajashekhar Reddy, on the other hand, has kept media control within his immediate family. Two months back the CM’s son Jana Reddy started a Telugu daily, Sakshi, which claims an amazing two million-plus print order. The newspaper, which comes out from 23 districts, has been carrying reports against rival newspaper owners and political opponents from the TDP. Sakshi, which has already incurred huge losses, is subsidised, according to the TDP, by businesspersons who have funded it in return for favours from the state government.