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M.J. Akbar To Head BJP's New Media Cell To Counter Bad Publicity

M.J. Akbar To Head BJP's New Media Cell To Counter Bad Publicity
Indian journalist MJ Akbar participates in a debate entitled 'Kashmir Kashmir' during the third day of DSC Jaipur Literature Festival on January 23, 2011. South Asia's largest book festival kicked off on January 21, 2011 in India's western desert state of Rajasthan, drawing many renowned international writers, critics and thousands of literary fans. AFP PHOTO / Sam PANTHAKY (Photo credit should read SAM PANTHAKY/AFP/Getty Images)
SAM PANTHAKY via Getty Images
Indian journalist MJ Akbar participates in a debate entitled 'Kashmir Kashmir' during the third day of DSC Jaipur Literature Festival on January 23, 2011. South Asia's largest book festival kicked off on January 21, 2011 in India's western desert state of Rajasthan, drawing many renowned international writers, critics and thousands of literary fans. AFP PHOTO / Sam PANTHAKY (Photo credit should read SAM PANTHAKY/AFP/Getty Images)

NEW DELHI -- Rocked by the Lalit Modi scandal and the Vyapam scam in recent weeks, the Bharatiya Janata Party has formed a new media cell to counter bad publicity, and what it perceives as a deliberate campaign by political rivals to tarnish its image.

Journalist and senior BJP leader M.J. Akbar will head the five-member cell which was constituted by BJP president Amit Shah on Monday. Other members in the team are Shrikant Sharma, Siddharth Nath Singh, Anil Baluni and Sudesh Verma.

They will be responsible for interacting with the media to effectively communicate the BJP's stand on contentious issues.

Shah has reportedly constituted 18 new departments for good governance including one for better coordination between the states and central office.

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