Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala-based Malayalam Daily 'Desabhimani' became the third largest Communist daily in the world after 'People's Daily' of China and 'Shimbun Akahata' of Japan, as reported on Thursday.
"In terms of circulation, Desabhimani, the mouth piece of CPI(M) in Kerala, is positioned in third place with 7 lakh copies being sold whereas the 'Shimbun Akahata' is in second place with 12 lakh copies and the 'People's Daily' is the first with 16 lakh copies," Deshabhimani General Manager KJ Thomas said while speaking at the inauguration of a most modern multi colour printing press here on Wednesday.
Economic crisis caused by the Russia-Ukraine war and Covid had resulted in the price rise of newsprint which rose from Rs 32,000 to Rs 93,000 during this period causing additional financial burden on publishing houses which already were facing a shortage of advertising revenue, he added.
Though many political parties including BJP have their own newspapers in India, Communist daily Desabhimani stands in number one position with the highest circulation of 7 lakh copies, he pointed out.
The recently concluded 23rd Party Congress of CPI(M) has also planned to attain a circulation target of 10 lakh copies for Desabimani in the near future, he said.
The annual quiz competition conducted by Desabhimani has the largest student participation in Asia which is about 45 lakh, he claimed.
CPIM politburo member A Vijayaraghavan, who inaugurated the state-of-the-art multicolor printing press at Deshabhimani headquarters, said there is a conspiracy with the support of anti-communist media to destroy the popularity of the Left movement in India.
Claiming that Kerala is upholding alternative policies against the BJP, he said pluralism of the country is being completely shattered under the BJP which has created communal polarisation.
Saying that the LDF government aims at the growth of all sections of the people, he said the Congress-led UDF is teaming up with communal forces to thwart this.
Newly appointed Chief Editor Puthalath Dinesan, who presided over the function, said a new printing press will be inaugurated for Desabhimani edition in Thrissur on April 23.
CPI (M) state secretariat member Anavur Nagappan, General Education Minister V Sivankutty, CITU state president Ananthalavattam Anandan, Central Control Commission Member M Vijayakumar, State Committee members Kadakampally Surendran MLA, S Satheesh, AA Rahim M.P, District Secretary V Joy MLA, Mayor Arya Rajendran, District Panchayat President D Suresh Kumar, Actor Madhupal, Resident Editor VB Parameswaran, Chief News Editor Manoha Deshabhimani Thiruvananthapuram Unit Manager I Saif, Local Committee Secretary P Anilkumaran and several others were also present. (UNI)
