TMC’s ‘Khela hobe’ to BJP’s ‘Pishi Jao’: Its a war of songs in West Bengal polls

From TMC’s ‘Khela hobe’ to BJP’s ‘Pishi Jao’, West Bengal's election is witnessing a war of songs between BJP, TMC and CPI(M).
 Trinamool Congress’s “Khela hobe” has struck a special chord with the people in West Bengal
Trinamool Congress’s “Khela hobe” has struck a special chord with the people in West Bengal TBC

With the eight-phase voting to begin from April 1, the political parties in West Bengal are doing their best to get the attention of the public. The political parties have come out with their respective campaign songs to woo the voters. Among several songs, slogans, and jingles, Trinamool Congress’s “Khela hobe” has struck a special chord with the people. The song has become so popular that it is being played all across West Bengal at birthday parties and wedding ceremonies. “Khela hobe” means game on and highlights the achievements of the TMC government's schemes.

TMC spokesperson and general secretary of its youth wing, Debangshu Bhattacharya, wrote the original slogan and the rap version of the slogan has been able to establish an instant connection with people.

“I wrote ‘Khela Hobe’ in 20 minutes during various rallies in North Bengal. We shot the video on 6th January and it was uploaded the next day. Then it also got a DJ version, and the rest is history. Now people have forgotten ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and BJP is also borrowing our slogan,” Debangshu Bhattacharya told The Indian Express.

The song mentions TMC government's health schemes and counters the BJP’s Jai Shri Ram slogan. It also talks about issues such as price rise and communalism. The Dj version of the song was released in January and quickly raked in more than nine million views on YouTube.

Mamata Banerjee has also used the “Khela hobe” slogan to attack Prime Minister Modi and BJP on various occasions. At rallies, she asks the voters ”Khela hobe” and drawing huge applause from the crowd in return.

On the other hand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has coined the Vikas hobe term to counter Mamata’s Khela Hobe slogan. At a rally in Purulia on Thursday, PM Modi was seen taking a swipe at Mamata Banerjee.

“Didi bole khela hobe, BJP bole chaakri hobe. Didi bole khela hobe, BJP bole vikas hobe. Didi bole khela hobe, BJP bole shiksha hobe. Khela shesh hobe, vikas aarambh hobe. (Didi says khela hobe, BJP says there will be jobs; Didi says khela hobe, BJP says there will be vikas, Didi says khela hobe, BJP says there will be education; the game will end, development will begin),” PM Modi told a crowd in Purulia.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks during a BJP election campaign rally, ahead of West Bengal assembly polls, in Purulia district, Thursday, March 18, 2021
Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks during a BJP election campaign rally, ahead of West Bengal assembly polls, in Purulia district, Thursday, March 18, 2021PTI

BJP has also come up with its own set of songs to challenge TMC in the state. The party has released “Pishi jao” song which is a parody of the late 19th-century Italian protest folk song “Bella Ciao”. It talks about the lack of development of West Bengal and criticises the TMC government’s schemes and corruption.

CPI(M) is also not far behind in this war of songs. The party has released two songs “Tumpa, toke niye Brigade jabo”, which is a parody of the Bengali song “Tumpa Shona”, and “Laal pherao”, which is a parody of the Bollywood song “Lungi Dance”, for its election campaign in the state.

The tenure of the 16th Legislative Assembly of West Bengal will end on May 30 this year. A total of 7,34,07,832 voters will choose their representative for the 17th Legislative Assembly of West Bengal.

Voting will happen in eight phases and the first phase of polling will take place on April 1. The results will be declared on May 2.

 Trinamool Congress’s “Khela hobe” has struck a special chord with the people in West Bengal
WB Elections 2021: From income to all to student credit card: Here’s what TMC’s manifesto says

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