Turn up the volume: Election songs forge a connection between candidates and voters, amplify campaigns

From singing the praises of candidates’ roots and family legacies to highlighting their personality traits, playful campaign songs have struck a chord with voters this election season, utilizing catchy phrases in local dialects.

The songs, which range from Hindi and Bhojpuri to Haryanvi and Punjabi, reflect the linguistic and cultural diversity of the national capital, home to people from all parts of the country.

Phir se Modiji ki sarkar dekhna chahusu (want to see a Modi government once again) is a popular Haryanvi song resonating at BJP rallies.

Highlighting the progress under Modi’s leadership, the BJP has crafted several songs celebrating their roots and family backgrounds.

Bansuri Swaraj, the BJP’s New Delhi candidate and daughter of the late Sushma Swaraj, has a song that pays tribute to her mother and fervently appeals to voters. The song begins with Modiji ko jeetana hai, Bansuriji ko lana hai (we have to make Modiji win, we have to bring in Bansuriji), referring to Bansuri as Sushma Swaraj’s shadow: Sushmaji ki parchhai ko aage le kar jana hai.

The Congress has fielded Kanhaiya Kumar from the North East Delhi seat, competing against BJP’s Manoj Tiwari. The musical battle between Tiwari, a Bhojpuri actor and singer, and Kumar features Bollywood-inspired songs.

Kanhaiya Kumar’s campaign song, Dham Dham Dharam Dharaiya Re dekhao aaya Kanhiya re, borrows its melody from the Bollywood hit Omkara Re Omkara. The lyrics narrate Kumar’s journey from Purvanchal to Parliament: Yaar hamara Sansad ki dahaleej pe dastak deta bhaarata).

Manoj Tiwari has released several Bhojpuri songs seeking support, including Ek bar phir se Manoj bhaiya ke apnai liha ho, Modiji ko jeetaye diya ho (Please embrace your brother Manoj once again, make Modiji victorious once again).

The BJP also released party songs like Tabhi sab Modi ko chunte hain (That’s why all elect Modi) to counter the INDIA bloc’s unity-focused “Team India hain hum” (we are Team India) song.

Delhi votes on May 25, with the silent period starting this evening.

The Aam Aadmi Party’s song, Jail ke jawab mein hum vote denge (we will avenge the imprisonment through votes), aims to channel public anger over Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest into electoral support. On Wednesday, Kejriwal also shared a new campaign song sung by Anmol Gagan Maan on his X account. The lyrics proclaim, Desh ko bachane aaya, bachchon ko padhane aaya, gareebon ka wo masiha, wo hai Kejriwal (He came to save the country, to educate the children, he is the Messiah of the poor, he is Kejriwal).

(with PTI inputs)