New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party announced its first list of candidates for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections on Thursday. The other big news of the day was mass protests in Kashmir following the custodial death of a principal.

Here is a look at who reported what and how during primetime.

Hindi channels

Aaj Tak

The channel reported on how the announcement of BJP tickets had marked the end of the era for BJP stalwart L.K. Advani: “Gandhinagar say Amit Shah …. to Advani ka yug khatam (Amit Shah from Gandhinagar, so Advani’s era ends).”

The most important thing, the channel said, was that the political career of 91-year-old Advani seems to be over. “He is the man who took BJP from shunya to shikhar (zero to zenith).”

“Message is now clear – BJP has moved from Atal-Advani to Modi-Shah”. It also noted that using a 75-year age bar, the party has denied a ticket to Garhwal MP and former two-time chief minister of Uttarakhand B.C. Khanduri.

The channel said there is also a possibility that former Union minister Murli Manohar Joshi may lose his Kanpur seat.

The channel also discussed Union Minister Smriti Irani’s candidature from Amethi and asked “Will the situation change in a direct fight in Amethi?”. Last time too Irani contested against Congress president Rahul Gandhi from the constituency, but lost.

ABP News

In a similar vein, this channel too focused on Irani and showed her saying, “Amethi say kamal khilakar sansad main BJP ko mazboot karna mere liye garv ki baat hogi (It would be an honour for me to make the lotus victorious from Amethi)".

The channel said a direct contest between Irani and Gandhi in Amethi would probably also keep the Congress president engaged in the constituency.

ABP News also hailed Irani as a person who has almost worked like an MP from Amethi over the last five years by taking various programmes there despite having lost the polls in 2014.

NDTV India

The Chunav India Ka programme was centred around the BJP list and noted how former president Rajnath Singh has been fielded from Lucknow and Nitin Gadkari from Nagpur. It said in UP, “Six MPs denied tickets”.

The channel also wondered which would be the second seat from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will contest. His name has already been announced from Varanasi. In 2014 he also contested from Vadodara in Gujarat.

This time it could be Odisha or West Bengal, the channel said. One of the reporters said “Puri is one of the seats” he may be eyeing. But it added that party spokesperson Sambit Patra is also being considered for it.

The anchor asked, “Is there a need for PM to contest from two seats, if so much developmental work has been done then is there a need for him to look for a safe second seat?”

The answer came from a political analyst and journalist who said the issue was not of looking for a safe seat but to show wider acceptance. “It also acts as a moral booster for the workers.”

Zee News

On Holi, the channel used its primetime show by anchor Sudhir Chaudhary to have a 'walk the talk' with actor Akshay Kumar at Red Fort. “Lal kilay say Akshay Kumar ka rashtrawadi samvad (Akshay Kumar’s nationalist talk from Red Fort)," went the heading, as the star joined the channel to promote his movie, Kesari.

The channel asked the actor about the Pulwama attack and the airstrikes that. It ran headlines such as “Bade muddon par chup kyon rehtay hain Bollywood (Why does Bollywood remain silent on big issues)" and “Sena say sabut mangnnay walon ko Akshay ka kesaria jawab (Akshay’s saffron answer to those who seek proof of strikes from the forces)".

English channels

Republic TV

The channel ran a hashtag #BJPFirstList as it declared: “New entrants rewarded by BJP”.

Another headline “BJP on the front foot” showed how it saw the contest. It also reported that “22 ministers named in BJP first list”.

The channel was the only one that mentioned the names of Sakshi Maharaj from Unnao and Sanjeev Balyan from Muzaffarnagar as those who have been granted tickets.

During the discussion Left leader Dinesh Varshey raised the issue of BJP giving tickets to tainted leaders. Sanjeev Balyan is an accused in the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots case. Unnao MP Sakshi Maharaj was acquitted in a gang rape case but is an accused in a murder probe. He is also known for his blatantly communal remarks.

NDTV 24X7

In its programme 'India Votes: The 2019 Roadmap’, anchor Vishnu Som focused on BJP’s politics in the east. In West Bengal, a headline said, “Party switchers given tickets”.

It also said Himanta Biswa Sarma has not been given a ticket. A reporter said the BJP did not want Sarma to concentrate on just one seat but on the entire region, despite his having expressed the desire to move to the Centre.

NDTV was also the only channel to report in detail the protests in Srinagar against the killing of school principal Rizwan Asad in police custody on Monday. “Government is blaming police, police is blaming NIA” – a headline said.

It reported that a magisterial enquiry has been ordered into the death. The report also showed the family members alleging that it was a case of “custodial murder”. They insisted that there were burn marks on his body.

The channel also reported how sweeping changes have been made to New Zealand’s gun laws after a terrorist attacked two mosques in Christchurch and killed 50 people. All semi-automatic weapons have been banned in the country.

India Today TV

The channel had anchor Rajdeep Sardesai in conversation with author and global money manager Ruchir Sharma “reading the mood of the nation”.

Sardesai commented that “there is polarisation that is taking place with our politicians” and asked “Have the politicians now become more difficult to interview and talk to?”

Sharma recalled his experiences in interviewing a large number of Indian politicians. He said he “at a person level they are very charming and engaging”.

“We have had many interviews in their bedrooms. This is completely unique, there is absolutely no way this can happen in the US."

Times Now

With a hashtag #ChunavMeterDebate, the channel discussed “Perception War: Who is ahead?”

Anchor Navika Kumar said “as far as campaign, social media, alliances are concerned many say balance tilted in favour of Modi right now – but will it stay this way till May 23.” Everyone is waiting to see.

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