Aveek Sarkar, Chief Editor of the ABP Group of Publications, has resigned after more than three decades with the group. His brother, Arup Sarkar, who has been the editor of the Group's Bengali magazines, is taking over as the Group Chief Editor, according to media reports.
Anirban Chattopadhyay will be the new editor of Anandabazar Patrika, the largest Bengali daily by circulation, and Bengali tabloid Ebela. R. Rajagopal will be the new Editor of The Telegraph.
Aveek Sarkar, 71, will continue to play an advisory role as editor (emeritus) and vice chairman of the company, and lead the digital initiatives at the group.
In a letter to ABP employees, ABP Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Dipankar Das Purkayastha, said the move is part of the group's ongoing efforts to streamline news operations.
ABP Group and Sarkar were recently targeted by the Trinamool Congress that alleged the Group led a “partisan campaign” against the party through its publications. In April, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged during a public rally that Sarkar and ABP were conspiring against Trinamool, The Hindureported earlier.
It is unclear if the Sarkar's move is a result of the public attacks. According to a Mintreport, Aveek Sarkar had been hinting at stepping down as group chief editor for sometime.
Sarkar, regarded as one of the most influential people in India, was ranked as one of the most powerful Indians by The Indian Express in 2009, 2012 and 2014. Anandabazar Patrika, itself, is one of the oldest dailies in India.