Jai ho! Cong on a song, in Bhojpuri

The Congress has left no stone unturned in its attempt to regain power in the politically important Uttar Pradesh in the 2012 elections, using novel methods to woo voters. Aurangzeb Naqshbandi reports.

The Congress has left no stone unturned in its attempt to regain power in the politically important Uttar Pradesh in the 2012 elections, using novel methods to woo voters.

The party has made some major changes in its campaign strategy this time to ensure that its appeal reached the masses across the state.

Impressed by the “hard work” of Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi who has made Uttar Pradesh his special turf, a Bollywood music director and lyricist joined hands to bring out an audio CD, comprising Hindi and Bhojpuri songs, that gives a regional touch to the party’s campaign.

Illustration-Abhimanyu

Titled ‘Laika Deshbhakt Lagela’ (The young man is a true nationalist), the CD with music by Vipin Patwa and lyrics of Dr Sagar — both hailing from UP — has four tracks with Gandhi as the central theme and targets all his political rivals – BSP, SP and BJP.

“The songs depict a true picture of the state of affairs in UP during the past 22 years… It also tells us what exactly Rahulji stands for,” said Congress MP Ashok Tanwar, a young Dalit face of the party.

The first track — ‘Rahul Gandhi ne UP mei kiya jung ka jab elaan’ (When Rahul Gandhi gave a war cry in UP) — has been based on Alha Veer Ras, a saga of gallantry among rural hamlets.

The songs also invoke the sacrifices made by the Nehru-Gandhi family. “Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi both sacrificed their lives for the nation,” the songs remind the people.

Around 7,000 copies have been distributed so far.

“The songs have become a craze among the masses in UP. Rahulji also liked them very much,” Patwa said.

This CD has added more firepower to the Congress campaign. The party has already turned the smash hit song — Jai Ho — from Oscar-winning movie Slumdog Millionaire into its poll anthem for the elections.