Candidates dance to folk tunes to woo voters in Bengal

From playing Dhamsa to swaying to the tune of tribal music or even pulling cycle rickshaw, the Lok Sabha candidates of different political parties in West Bengal are finding unique ways to engage with their voters as the election battle draws closer.

Along with catchy slogans, political songs and graffiti, participation in local cultural activities have become a key instrument of mass connect for the political outfits and their nominees in the state for the coming elections.

Popular actress-turned-politician Moon Moon Sen, a candidate of Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bardhaman district's Asansol, made special efforts to mingle with her electors in tribal-dominated Barabani in her constituency, by participating in tribal dance.

Sen, clad in an elegant white saree, chose to call three or four local girls upon the stage at the end of her public meeting in Barabani's Panchgachia and danced to perfect rhythm, evoking many cheers from the crowd.

Debjit Sarkar, the president of BJP's youth wing in Bengal and party's candidate from Hooghly district's Srerampore seat, kickstarted his poll campaign in Sandhyabazar area by taking out a rally, led by a local band party.

The band members walked in the forefront of Sarkar's rally while playing Tassa (hand drums), evoking curiosity among the passers-by in the busy market place.

Sarkar also briefly pulled a cycle rickshaw with the rickshaw owner as his passenger and operated a potters' wheel at a local workshop as part of his mass contact programme in a bid to seek votes of the working class in Serampore.

Meanwhile, Bengal Panchayat minister and Trinamool's nominee from Bankura constituency, Subrata Mukherjee was seen playing a 'Dhamsa' (large kettle drum), an extremely popular folk instrument in the tribal belt, during one of his road shows here.

--IANS

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