MUMBAI: Jaspal Bhatti could well be Zee News' answer to the Aaj Tak ploy of roping in Javed Jaaferi for a satirical spin on the forthcoming elections.
Along with other news channels that are pulling up their socks in the run up to the Lok Sabha elections, Zee News has lined up a slew of shows, some peppy and some serious, to train the spotlight on the biggest newsy event of the season.
Kicking off proceedings will be packages related with all aspects of electioneering called Singhasan Ka Final. It could be anything from Mumbai's own Govinda joining politics to Laloo's family's political rhetoric. The highlight however is funnyman Bhatti's three-minute sarcasm packed skits Khabar Tadka--Chunav Ki Bhatti Se which will run right through the election period.
In Janata Mange Hisaab, key constituencies will be featured and the sitting MP will be confronted with a report card prepared by reporters. In a similar vein, Chunav Chaupal will bring the people and elected representatives face-to-face with a host of issues on the agenda. The half-hour programme reminiscent of courtyard discussions in the countryside will be televised via high technology outstation broadcast vans across the length and breadth of the country, says an official release.
Each step towards power would be closely followed by Zee News in its eight-minute campaign trail called Daurey Par Netaji. Correspondents will spend the entire day with select leaders to capture their style of canvassing and to find out what makes them tick.
A similar trailblazer with stars from the fields of cinema, television, sport and art, aptly titled Daurey Par Abhinetaji will also shortly go on air, as will weekly opinion polls called Kaun Kitne Paani Main. These would relate to party performances and issues affecting the common man. There will also be informal chats in Chunavi Gupshup at random venues, where people would be casually asked about what elections mean to them and about their political preferences.
Shatranj Ke Khilari will be a half-hour programme featuring studio discussions with leaders of different parties pitted against each other. There will also be some fillers about trivia on elections called Chunavi Chatpat. These spicy bits of information would pop in and pop out through the day.