New Delhi, Jul 7 (IANS): With nine of the 13 posts in the Prasar Bharati board becoming vacant, the Centre on Tuesday appointed five key individuals, including BJP spokesperson Shaina NC and music composer Salim Merchant, as part-time members of the coveted board.

The other three are Sanjay Gupta, the editor-in-chief of a Hindi daily, media personality Alok Agawarwal and veteran journalist Ashok Kumar Tandon.

While Merchant's tenure lasts till 2021, Agarwal and Shaina NC's tenures last till 2023. Sanjay Gupta and Ashok Kumar Tandon's tenures expire in 2025.

Speaking to IANS, Shaina NC said that thrust will be given on the All India Radio. "I think our endeavour will be to completely organise Doordarshan and Prasar Bharati, particularly mediums like All India Radio, which has tremendous connectivity and a lot of goodwill. I think that will be maximised to the best of our ability," she said.

The Prasar Bharati Board plays a crucial role in the general administrative functioning of the state broadcaster. Prasar Bharati is an autonomous body.

Recently, the state broadcaster made headlines after its spat with news agency PTI. Prasar Bharati had shot off a letter threatening to end its "relationship" with PTI over the alleged "anti-national" reportage by the news agency, a charge refuted by PTI's former Editor-in-Chief M.K. Razdan, who called it "preposterous".

Asked about whether deciding the fate of the "relationship" between the broadcaster and the news agency will be on the table, Shaina NC said, "I am sure a lot of issues will come up," adding that it won't be right for her to "predetermine" at this juncture.

Earlier, in her tweet, the BJP leader also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar for her appointment to the prestigious board.