As Bihar prepares for its two-phased Assembly polls, political parties are turning to Bhojpuri music to reach voters across the state. Songs celebrating Bihari pride, development promises, and party symbols are flooding social media and village lanes. BJP MP Manoj Tiwari's track highlights Bihar's literary legends like Phanishwar Nath Renu and Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, while also referencing Nalanda University and freedom fighter Kunwar Singh. Other candidates, including Maithili Thakur and actor Ritesh Pandey, are singing directly to voters. Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj party and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav have also released campaign songs focusing on employment and change. Studios in Bihar are producing content for multiple parties, with lyricists and composers often working across political lines. Even a Chhath devotional song has been adapted for campaign purposes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently criticized one viral song for its controversial lyrics, though the track was released independently for entertainment.
Music becomes a campaign tool across parties
Multiple candidates and parties are using Bhojpuri music to connect with voters. BJP candidate Maithili Thakur sings directly on her campaign trail requesting votes from Alinagar, while actor-singer Pawan Singh's song supporting Modi and Nitish has gained 11 lakh views. Ritesh Pandey, contesting on a Jan Suraaj ticket from Kargahar, promotes Prashant Kishor's agenda of curbing migration and creating jobs. RJD's Tejashwi Yadav's social media features tracks promising a brighter future. Lyricist R R Pankaj explains that composers often work for multiple parties during elections. One studio, Laxmi Audio Video, has created separate songs endorsing Nitish Kumar, Prashant Kishor, and Tejashwi Yadav, showing how campaign music crosses party boundaries.
Celebrating Bihari identity through song
Manoj Tiwari's song released two weeks ago aims to transform Bihari identity into a source of pride. The track, produced by Singapore-based engineer Shailendra Singh's YouTube channel Bhojpuri IT cell, features lyrics by Mumbai-based Atul Kumar Rai. Unlike typical autotuned Bhojpuri numbers, this song references Bihar's intellectual heritage and historical figures including socialist icon Jayprakash Narayan and 1857 rebellion leader Kunwar Singh. Rai wrote the song to counter negative portrayals of Bihar focusing on casteism and extremism, wanting younger generations to learn their state's actual history. The song has received over eight lakh views. Though not explicitly partisan, its timing before elections and Tiwari's involvement led many to view it as BJP-aligned.
Source: Link