NEW DELHI: Vivekananda International Foundation distinguished fellow and author Dr A Surya Prakash was appointed as Prasar Bharati Board chairman on Tuesday by the BJP government. He succeeds Mrinal Pande whose term ended on April 30 this year. The position of the chairman has been vacant since then.

Prasar Bharati administers the country's public broadcasters—Doordarshan and All India Radio.

An official statement by the ministry of information and broadcasting said that Prakash had been appointed for a three-year term on the recommendation of a three-member committee headed by Vice President Hamid Ansari. The committee includes I&B secretary Bimal Julka and Press Council of India chairman Markandey Katju.

Prakash has vast experience of both TV and print media, the statement said adding that he had held key positions in several print and electronic media organizations.

The VIF, set up under the aegis of the Vivekananda Kendra, is supported by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological parent of the BJP. National security adviser Ajit Doval—appointed on 30 May—is a former director of the foundation. Surya Prakash has closely worked with senior leaders of BJP and RSS.

The appointment is a political one and the powers to run the public broadcaster lie with the chief executive officer according to the Prasar Bharati act.