MUMBAI: The current ruling government of Tamil Nadu has decided to launch its own news channel and newspaper to propagate government schemes.

The matter was decided at a party legislators’ meeting chaired by All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK)chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and deputy CMO Panneerselvam.

When J Jayalalitha ruled the state, Namathu MGR and Jaya TV served as mouthpieces for the party, but after the ousting of VK Sasikala and her nephew TTV Dhinakaran from AIADMK, both platforms have become too critical of the ruling government.

The name of the newspaper would be Namathu Amma and will launch on 17 January while the TV channel is probably named as Amma TV, Jayalalitha’s moniker and is in the works.

In November, income tax raids under Operation Clean Money targeted shell firms belonging to 10 groups, including those run by members of Sasikala’s family and associates. The raids that went on for five days were also conducted at Jaya TV premises and at the residence of its managing director Vivek Jayaraman, another nephew of Sasikala.