Bihar polls: JD(U) launches campaign song

The song was made public by state JD(U) president Vashistha Narayan Singh amid much fanfare simultaneously with the launch of ‘Har ghar dastak’ campaign of the party.

Banking on catchy tunes and exuberant lyrics, JD(U) on Thursday released its campaign song ‘Bihar mein bahaar ho, Nitishe Kumar ho’ (Let there be prosperity in Bihar, let there be only Nitish Kumar) for the forthcoming Assembly elections in the state.

The song was made public by state JD(U) president Vashistha Narayan Singh amid much fanfare simultaneously with the launch of ‘Har ghar dastak’ campaign of the party.

Music for the song has been composed by Sneha Khanwalkar of ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ and ‘Oye Lucky Oye’ fame, besides the songwriter Raj Shekhar, known for his lyrics in Tanu Weds Manu. Neeti Mohan and Ghunghroo are the vocalists.

JD(U) insiders said the song was prepared after a research of two-and-a-half months under guidance of Prashant Kishore, who was formerly associated with innovative social outreach strategies during Narendra Modi’s prime ministerial campaign and now hired by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to spearhead JD(U)’s poll campaign in the state.

The 4.21 minute-long song has been tailor made to showcase developments made in Bihar over the last 10 years during which Kumar was at the helm of affairs. It uses the word ‘Nitishe’ which in colloquial language means ‘only Nitish’.

“The song showcases the developmental efforts by the government, hints at how the downslide of the state stopped and an upward movement started. It points at the way pride has been brought to Bihar and how there is nobody else like Nitish Kumar,” a leader associated with JD(U) poll campaign said.

By straightaway connecting ‘bahaar’ (prosperity) and development with Nitish Kumar in the state, the song tries to stymie the BJP, which will definitely bank on its slogan for a change in governance in the coming elections.

As poll campaign songs cannot leave politics untouched, this one too goes on to talk about ‘Bhoomi ka sapoot, bhoomi bachayega’ (the son of the soil will save land) pointing to the land acquisition bill being pushed by the BJP-led government at the Centre.

“Land acquisition bill comes in direct clash with 86 per cent population of Bihar, which depends on agriculture and land for livelihood. It addresses the issue by telling them that Kumar will save land from being snatched away from farmers,” a JD(U) leader said.

The song also asks people not to be swayed by “caste, religion and false promise,” and tells them to choose a leader who is concerned about the welfare of all.

With the campaign song in place now, the party will also launch mobile ringtones and caller tunes in the coming days, invoking the public to root for Kumar, the campaign team member said.

Courtesy: PTI