New Delhi: National Herald, the pre-Independence era newspaper, founded and launched by India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru from Lucknow on Sept. 9, 1938, is all set to be re-launched in Bengaluru on June 12.  

In 2008, the newspaper, known to be backed by the Congress and the Gandhi family, stopped its publication citing financial constraints. What is interesting is that the Congress has decided to relaunch the newspaper from Karnataka which is set to face elections in 2018.

Analysts are saying that the newspaper is likely to act as a mouthpiece for the Congress in Karnataka. Vice-President Hamid Ansari will launch a  commemorative edition of The National Herald to mark the 70th year of Independence in Bengaluru, India’s IT hub on June 12.

The event will be attended by Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi and other top leaders of the party. Later, an official launch of the edition and formal print relaunch of the newspaper will take place in New Delhi on June 20 and the event will be graced by President Pranab Mukherjee.

The newspaper has been mired in controversy after BJP MP Subramanian Swamy filed a case against Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul for “cheating” in the acquisition of The Associated Journals Limited (AJL), the publisher of National Herald, by Young Indian Private Limited — a firm in which Sonia and Rahul Gandhi each have a 38 per cent stake. Swamy had alleged that Congress gave an unsecured loan to Young Indian Private Limited to acquire AJL.