MUMBAI: Arnab Goswami's Times Now exit has sent tremors through the news television industry, something that many can't believe as yet as his name was so strongly associated with the channel. Speculation is rife about who will be his replacement, and who will fill the big fat void that has been created owing to his departure. And, questions are being asked about where he is headed. 

Among the names being mentioned as someone who will hop into his chair is that of Rajdeep Sardesai, who is currently with the Aroon Purie's TV Today Network. Rajdeep cut his teeth early on in his career at The Times of India and ended up being the city editor of the Mumbai edition. So, it will be like a homecoming for him or so is what the grapevine is muttering.

Television happened, and the son of the former Indian test bat Dilip Sardesai, and even an Oxford cricketer himself, Rajdeep plunged heavily into it. After stints in NDTV, he went on to found the channel GBN (now CNN News18) before quitting and becoming the consulting editor at TV Today Network. 

Rajdeep, however, was pretty candid when indiantelevision.com got in touch with him about the strong buzz that he was replacing Arnab as the editor-in-chief at Times Now. "Rubbish," he said. "I  have not even met anyone for anything of that kind to happen. I am just coming back from a teaching assignment in Georgetown, and there is no way  that I will step in for Arnab. At least for now..."

That there is no love lost between the two is no doubt, but Arnab's style of opinionated journalism is a total antithesis of what classical Rajdeep purports he practices. 

Other names being bandied about include Barkha Dutt, and Rahul Joshi. The facts are not forthcoming as the Times Television Network has not put out an official statement as yet.

The expectation was that Rajdeep would reportedly  take over as  the Times Now editor-in-chief, and enable the smooth transition. When indiantelevision.com reached out to Times Network MD MK Anand, he said, "I have no comments to make at this juncture."

Have we heard the last of L'affaire Arnab? Most unlikely as the media does indeed want to know! This time at least!

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The after-effect of Arnab Goswami’s exit