The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has engaged popular bhajan singer Hansraj Raghuwanshi to perform across Punjab, a move widely seen as a counter to the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) decision to rope in devotional vocalist Kanhaiya Mittal. With the state assembly elections just months away, the Congress is also reportedly eyeing a Delhi-based female devotional singer to bolster its campaign.
Devotional singers as vote-pullers
Political parties in Punjab are increasingly turning to devotional singers to connect with voters, especially the Hindu community, which constitutes about 40% of the state's electorate. Leaders acknowledge that such cultural events help establish an emotional bond with the audience, transcending regional and demographic divides.
On Sunday, the Gurdaspur administration ensured the smooth conduct of 'Ek Sham Bhagwan Shiv Ke Naam' at the Government College Stadium, attended by AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, his wife Sunita Kejriwal, and Batala MLA Sherry Kalsi. The event drew such a massive crowd that police struggled to manage the surge.
Strategic targeting of Hindu-dominated cities
The official stance of the Punjab Government is that these events promote religious and cultural traditions. However, the choice of venues reveals a clear electoral strategy. AAP is organising Raghuwanshi's shows predominantly in Hindu-dominated urban centres such as Gurdaspur, Batala, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Mohali, Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur, and Patiala.
“In these cities, the Hindu vote share can effectively swing an election. The community is heavily concentrated in urban areas. That is why we are organising such shows in these areas,” an AAP MLA told The Tribune.
BJP counters with Kanhaiya Mittal
On the other side, the BJP is backing Kanhaiya Mittal, whose songs often celebrate the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. “This is why the BJP falls back on him during times of elections. This time we have already engaged him, and he will perform primarily in urban areas. The dates of his shows are being worked out. There is also a possibility that we may rope in more vocalists whose expertise lies only in singing religious songs,” said a BJP leader.
Congress in the fray
The Congress party, not to be left behind, is reportedly in talks with a Delhi-based female devotional singer. While the party has not made an official announcement, sources indicate that similar events are being planned to woo Hindu voters in key constituencies.
As the election season heats up, the use of devotional music as a campaign tool underscores the intense competition for the Hindu vote bank in Punjab, where urban centres are expected to play a decisive role.
