New Delhi: NaMo TV is a “Hindi news service which provides the latest breaking news on national politics”, DTH service provider Tata Sky has tweeted, intensifying the mystery over the channel exclusively featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speeches and pro-BJP content in election season. The channel was quietly launched on March 31 (Sunday), and promoted by the ruling BJP as well as related accounts.

In a tweet soon after its launch, PM Modi posted a tweet urging people to watch his interaction with chowkidars live on NaMo tv

The Election Commission has asked for a report on NaMo TV from the Information and Broadcasting ministry amid opposition allegations that the ruling party has launched the channel to push its campaign in a serious violation of the code of conduct in place for the April-May national election.

On Wednesday, top sources in the Information and Broadcasting ministry claimed that NaMo TV is an “advertising platform” that does not need the government’s approval for telecast.

The broadcast ministry, which is preparing its reply, says NaMo TV “is not a normal channel” and does not figure in the official list of approved channels of the ministry. It is not on the list of permitted private satellite TV channels on the ministry’s website

“It is a kind of advertising platform launched by the service provider, currently being run on some DTH platforms,” sources said on Wednesday. The sources said no approval is required to run such platforms.

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, asked about NaMo TV on the sidelines of a press conference, told NDTV, “Let the appropriate authorities answer. Let the Information and Broadcasting and EC (Election Commission) comment on it. You and I should not get into it.”

NaMo TV, a 24-hour channel that borrows the PM’s name and his image for its logo, is available on various DTH and cable TV platforms. It has been airing PM Modi’s speeches and interviews of BJP leaders.

The BJP’s official Twitter handles as well as those linked to the party have been tweeting asking viewers to tune in to ‘NaMo TV’ and the NaMo app for the PM’s rallies and spe

All major DTH platforms are hosting the channel. But it is not clear who owns the channel or how it is funded.

Both the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have complained to the Election Commission against the channel

The Congress complained to the election body that NaMo TV, earlier called Content TV, was dedicated “solely to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP for promoting and advertising the achievements of the government, personal achievements of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, political rallies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and broadcasting interviews of prominent BJP leaders”.