Why Pradeep Bhandari resigned from Zee News?

Pradeep Bhandari, a senior journalist and psephologist, recently announced his resignation from Zee News, where he served as Consulting Editor since March. Confirming his departure on social media platform X, Bhandari expressed gratitude to his audience and revealed that he will no longer host popular shows like "Taal Thok Ke," "Aapka Sawal," and "24 Ki Sarkar," or present exit polls on Zee during this election season.

Prior to his role at Zee News, Bhandari was associated with India News as News Director and also served as a Consulting Editor at Republic Media Network. Additionally, he is the Founder and CEO of 'Jan ki Baat', an independent global on-ground public opinion technology and psephological company.

Bhandari's resignation comes amidst speculation surrounding Zee News Network's decisions, including reports of halting live broadcasts of political events involving Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. Zee founder Subhash Chandra expressed concerns over India's press freedom ranking, recalling a similar struggle against government influence 33 years ago. His remarks followed questions raised over SEBI's investigation into fund diversion.

Who is Pradeep Bhandari?

Pradeep Bhandari is an Indian journalist, news anchor, and psephologist known for his significant contributions to Indian media. Born on an unspecified date, Bhandari completed his Bachelor's degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Manipal Institute of Technology in 2012.

His professional journey showcases his versatility and commitment to journalism. In August 2022, Bhandari was appointed as the news director of India News, a Hindi news channel under the ITV Network. He gained prominence for founding Jan Ki Baat, a digital media company recognized for its accurate predictions in over 39 Indian elections through opinion and exit polls.

Bhandari's media presence extends to hosting prime-time shows like "Janta Ka Mukadama" on India News, airing on weekdays at 8 pm. He rose to fame in 2020 for his distinctive reporting style during coverage of the Sushant Singh Rajput's death case.

Prior to his role at India News, Bhandari served as the consulting editor at Republic Media Network and hosted the popular show "Lalkaar" on Republic TV. He has also been involved in teaching at Pink Flower Public School and serving as the Youth Wing Coordinator of the Thalassemia and Child Welfare Group NGO.

Bhandari's career has not been without controversy. He faced physical altercation in September 2020 during his time at Republic TV, and legal disputes in October 2020 related to his reporting on the Hindi film industry. In February 2023, he was embroiled in a police complaint filed by the Indian National Congress's Tripura in-charge for allegedly violating the Model Code of Conduct.