News Tamil Nadu

AIADMK’s Kalyanasundaram Exposes News 18 Tamil Nadu’s Editor-In-Chief Karthigaichelvan’s Bias, Here’s Proof That He’s Not A Neutral Journalist But A DMK Propagandist

March 18, 2025
The Commune

AIADMK spokesperson Kalyanasundaram known for his fiery speeches and attacks on the DMK completely exposed the bias of the so-called journalist and chief editor of News 18 Tamil Nadu Karthigaichelvan.

In the channel’s primetime debate show ‘Sollathigaaram’ on the Tamil Nadu Budget 2025, Kalyanasundaram was trying to make a point about ‘Earned Leave Surrender System’ for state government employees when Karthigaichelvan interjected and said, “He’s talking about Surrender Leave. Who stopped it? What I’m asking is what did they promise in their election manifesto for government workers?”to which Karthigaichelvan interjected and asked “Did your (AIADMK) government stop it or not is what I’m asking? Okay.. You’re saying they (DMK) didn’t fulfil their promise.”

Irked by Karthigaichelvan’s intervention, Kalyanasundaram responded saying “Do you want my response or do you want me to support whatever he (DMK MLA I. Paranthamen) says and leave?” This statement of Kalyanasundaram seems to have unsettled News 18 Tamil Nadu Editor-in-Chief Karthigaichelvan.

Kalyanasundaram continued that in the first round of the debate itself he posed the question of the DMK government not fulfilling its promise to government workers. And just as he completed, Karthigaichelvan interjected again saying “I’m coming to you sir” repeatedly to which Kalyanasundaram angrily responded “You keep watching him (DMK spokesperson) talk but when I talk for every line you keep interjecting and saying – I’m coming to you, I’m coming to you. Tell me. You ask your question fully and then I’ll answer. He (DMK spokesperson) is blatantly talking lies and you allow that but you keep intervening whenever I talk.“

With Kalyanasundaram exposing the bias of Karthigaichelvan, the latter took to defend himself saying “I’m not asking you any question now. Whatever criticisms you have against me, you say.” Kalyanasundaram further asked “Sir, don’t keep talking like this. Why do you want to do this (virtue-signalling) only during my chance?” to which Karthigaichelvan challenged that he never made any interventions during the first round.

Kalyanasundaram however pointed that Karthigaichelvan never dared to make an intervention when the DMK spokesperson was speaking and peddling lies. “You ask your questions first completely. I will respond later,” the AIADMK spokesperson thundered at Karthigaichelvan to which the latter responded that he can take the time he wants to convey his points and not cast aspersions on him.

“I don’t expect Kalyanasundaram to be like other people. He’s a very knowledgeable person. I am expecting your point of view. Both of you belong to main parties. Please come up with points. There’s nothing in criticising me,” said Karthigaichelvan.

“Why did you intervene now?” Kalyanasundaram asked once again to which Karthigaichelvan said “What I’m saying is, criticisms against me is unwarranted and that I was coming to ask about your point only.” The News 18 Tamil Nadu Editor-In-Chief kept on justifying that he didn’t intervene at all.

Why Karthigaichelvan Is A DMK-Buttressing Propagandist?

Karthigalchelvan is a Dravidian propagandist journalist and a Modi-baiter. He has come under fire for some of his buttressing attitude towards the DMK. He had a sycophantic interview with DMK scion Udhayanidhi Stalin in which he posed soft, easy and simping questions that felt more like scripted PR.

A few years ago, he conducted a similar interview with the current Chief Minister, MK Stalin, which also faced public backlash for lacking tough questioning. In a compilation of multiple interviews featuring Stalin, he appears to follow a repetitive pattern, asking questions about his fitness routine, preparations for long journeys, sources of energy for campaigning, and how he readies himself for such activities.

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Pro-DMK Behaviour Exhibited By Karthigaichelvan

During a debate on News18 Tamil in June 2023, moderated by Karthigaichelvan, when one of the panelists Advocate Tamil Mani accused Senthil Balaji of corruption, citing his admission to taking money for job placements. Karthigaichelvan defended Senthil Balaji, claiming the ongoing case made labeling him corrupt premature. Despite a DMK spokesperson’s insults, Karthigaichelvan tried to maintain neutrality, softly condemning Saravanan from DMK towards the end.

During a News18 Tamil Nadu debate in October 2022, Karthigaichelvan and DMK spokesperson Constantine Raveendran faced criticism for allegedly protecting CM MK Stalin over a fake news claim related to the Sterlite protest firing. Hindu Munnani’s A.T. Elangovan pointed out the incident where Stalin falsely implicated PM Modi, but Raveendran demanded proof, limiting Elangovan’s response. Karthigaichelvan claimed ignorance and declined to express an opinion. 

Modi Hate

In the past, Karthigaichelvan had consistently expressed animosity towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In 2015, he shared a derogatory cartoon (now deleted) suggesting that the Union Government, led by Narendra Modi, was influenced by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

Karthigaichelvan shared cartoons mocking PM Modi, implying he acts as per Hindu or secular sentiments. One cartoon depicted Modi hitch-hiking on Karunanidhi’s wheelchair during a courtesy visit. Another mocked Digital India, accompanied by a euphoric caption “Hahahaha.”

Once he was called out by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for deliberately trying to peddle anti-Modi propaganda saying that the Centre was waiving off loans taken by corporates.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted widespread searches across Tamil Nadu on March 6, 2025 investigating large-scale financial irregularities linked to the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Limited (TASMAC). The operation, carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, uncovered a deep-rooted network of bribery, kickbacks, and systematic corruption amounting to a ₹1,000 Crore Scam. However not one news card was shared by him.

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