Maharashtra government to hire PR firm for image makeover

The Maharashtra govt's move comes close on the heels of a similar move by the state undertaking, the MMRDA

The Congress-led government in Maharashtra, which is embroiled in controversies over various scams and delays in project implementation, proposes to hire a professional public relations and media agency for an image makeover ahead of the assembly elections in September-October next year.

The department of information and public relations on Friday held a marathon meeting with eight shortlisted firms for the government's proposed media blitzkrieg.

A senior state government official, who did not want to be identified, told Business Standard, “Eight agencies, including Adfactors, Goldmine, Paramin, Astral, Crayons, Kautilya, Marketing Consultants & Agency and Paam, on Friday were briefed about the government's publicity and public relations campaign. These agencies have been asked to come up with a comprehensive presentation on October 30 and 31. One of these eight agencies will be selected and given an one year mandate.” The official said the budget was yet to be firmed up but it would be at least Rs 5 crore with a provision to increase at a later stage.

The official said the media campaign would focus on advertisements, periodical write-ups by experts on current topics, story-based articles on various pro-development and pro-people programmes. “On top of it, the media and public relations firm will also have to take the responsibility of issuing clarification on behalf of the government on stories appearing in print and aired on media with improper facts,” the official said.

The Maharashtra government’s move comes close on the heels of a similar move by the state undertaking, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), to select media and public relations firms.

The government's move coincides with anti-incumbency that the government is facing and attacks from the Opposition and non-government organisations over the multi-crore irrigation scam, non-tabling of the report prepared by a two-member commission on the Adarsh housing society scam, alleged irregularities in fodder supply during the drought situation in various districts and on top of it, the alleged scam in the sale of sick co-operative sugar factories.

Besides, the government is also under attack for the rising power tariff, especially to the industry consumers and an alleged favouritism shown to the private sector. Moreover, the land acquisition and compensation for the Jaitapur project and other projects is another issue taken up by opposition parties.