MUMBAI: While BJP has singers and musicians like Daler Mehndi, Hans Raj Hans, Babul Supriyo and Bappi Lahiri, who are contesting in Lok Sabha Elections 2019, Congress isn’t behind. The party has roped in Prahlad Singh Tipaniya aka Sahab Bandgi, who is a well-known folk singer. He is given the candidature from Devas Madhya Pradesh, which will go for polling in seventh and the last phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha Elections.

Prahlad Tipaniya is known for singing bhajans of Saint Kabir in the peculiar Malwi style. A Padmashri awardee, Prahlad has performed globally and presented the treasured literature of Saint Kabir. Indian National Congress saw new Bollywood industry entrants, this year, like Urmila Matondkar while Amitabh Bachchan and Govinda were a part of the party in the past. But, this is the first time, a musician is contesting for Congress.

This is also Prahlad’s debut in politics and he is pitted against the sitting Member of Parliament Manohar Untwal from BJP. The current MP had won against Congress in 2014 with a margin of two lakh votes, thus making it an uphill task for Pralhad to contest this time.

Indian National Congress President Rahul Gandhi recently tweeted a video, he shot of the folk singer during their campaign in tanpura, which announced the new addition. He also mentioned that Tipaniya’s style of campaigning is different and more interesting than that of others.

I shot this little video of Shri Prahlad Tipaniya, more familiarly known as Sahab Bandgi, our candidate in Devas, MP...

He uses folk songs to connect with the audience and his campaigning style is a treat to watch! pic.twitter.com/BgeMg4BLCm

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 11, 2019

While candidates who can promote our rich heritage are always welcome, it will only be on 23 May when we will know, who people of Devas will choose.