Although the results of Uttar Pradesh’s Assembly elections have yet to be revealed, the war of electoral slogans and songs has already begun. The hoardings make no reference of “Yogi sarkar,” but the lyrics of a poll song sung by Bhojpuri actor, musician, and politician Dinesh Lal Yadav Nirahua and shared on social media include verses about the Chief Minister. In 2019, Nirahua ran as a BJP candidate against SP president Akhilesh Yadav in the Lok Sabha election in Azamgarh and lost. He was recently spotted at the BJP’s state headquarters for a political function.
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“Na toh haathi, na hi cycle, panja bhi ab bandh hai, UP ko Akhilesh nahin Yogi baba hi pasand hai,” another poll song says, alluding to the BJP’s state opponents, the BSP, SP, and Congress, and their electoral symbols: “Na toh haathi, na hi cycle, panja bhi ab bandh hai, UP k UP prefers Yogi to Akhilesh).” On the other hand, the SP makes it obvious that their campaign is focused on Akhilesh Yadav, the party’s leader and former chief minister. Akhilesh was unable to maintain power in 2017 due to a political feud with his uncle.
Another SP line being used in Akhilesh’s public meetings, in reference to the popular Trinamool slogan during the West Bengal elections earlier this year: “Shaam-e-Awadh udaas hai, rangeen banaiye, janata pukarti hai Akhilesh aaiye (The nights in Awadh are sad, make them colourful, people are crying for Akhilesh to come)” is one of the songs sung at the party’s Samajwadi Vijay Rath Yatra.
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The SP has also taken aim at the Adityanath administration for its handling of Covid. Mayawati’s entry into the arena is the phrase that BSP workers choose to use at party events. The BSP has also started airing recordings of Kanshiram, the party’s founder, praising Mayawati’s previous regimes. A large hoarding with this combination may be seen at the Women Power Line Crossing, a well-known landmark in Lucknow, with the Congress’s message in support of girls followed with an image of party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
