What's wrong with NDTV sources?

"It's a done deal", NDTV had said about poll strategist Prashant Kishor's entry into the Congress. But it turned out to be the wrong story. Why? Because Prashant Kishor or PK as he is known turned down an offer from the Congress to join the party as a member of an Empowered Action Group for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Well, he'd thought that he would be appointed as the vice-president of the grand old party. So, the deal fell through.

But wasn't NDTV alerted by its sources that in the Congress, it is next to impossible that an outsider will straightaway be given the number two post in the party.

In one of the meetings with his senior colleagues, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi had said that PK's ultimate goal is to become the party chief and the vice-president's post is just a stepping stone.

The NDTV has repeatedly functioned as the official spokesperson of the high profile poll strategist who is desperate to join the ailing Congress. Through his carefully crafted ecosystem, he gets stories planted in different newspapers too. Before he started negotiations with Congress regarding his joining for the umpteenth time, celebrity editors had a round table where he stated that Congress is the only national party that can take on the BJP. This, after he hollowed out the grand old party in states like Goa and Meghalaya. 

It is said that some NDTV journalists virtually take dictation from PK on what "angles" to be pursued in their reports. That's the level. 

So, did any heads roll in NDTV when its "done deal" story turned out to be a mere plant by the poll strategist?

NDTV earlier this week reported that the 'one family, one ticket' norm exempts the Gandhi family.

What's wrong with this story? It selectively picked up the Gandhis, apparently peeved over for not taking PK in their party, as scores of other families too will benefit from the clause that says any kin with a five year of work in the party can get the ticket. Moreover, it misquoted senior Congress leader Ajay Maken having said that the Gandhi family is exempted from this norm.

Many Congress leaders tagged the NDTV tweet and called it 'Fake News' as Ajay Maken had never said that.

Why such desperate acts? NDTV has lost credibility with its goof-ups. The reporters need to work as journalists and not become cheerleaders for anyone. That job should be left to someone else. Reporting accurately is the hallmark of journalism and NDTV seems to have missed that bus long long ago.