Assembly elections: Banking on Punjabi singers to woo youth

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, December 12

Ahead of the 2022 Assembly elections in Punjab, parties are turning to popular folk singers to woo young voters. In the 2017 elections, the 18-39 age group comprised 53 per cent of the total electorate. Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala has joined the Congress. All set to contest from Mansa, he drew large crowds at a rally last week where the CM was present too.

AAP has fielded two singers — Balkar Sidhu from Rampura Phul and Anmol Gagan Maan from Kharar. There is speculation it may field singer Balbir Chotian from the Bathinda-Rural constituency. Also, Bollywood actor Sonu Sood’s sister Malvika has announced she will be contesting from hometown Moga. Sonu Sood has held meetings with leaders of all major parties, but his sister is yet to join a party.

The entry of singers in the electoral arena has made party workers aspiring for the party ticket uneasy. Moosewala faced a protest by Youth Congress workers as he got up to deliver a speech at the Mansa rally. That the CM was on the dais was no deterrent.

In the past, several singers and artistes— Mohammad Sadiq, Hans Raj Hans, Gurpreet Ghuggi, Jassi Jasraj and Satwinder Bitti — have tried their luck in politics.