Political Parties Amplify Election Campaigns with Catchy Campaign Songs Across Nepal

Kathmandu. Political campaign songs are currently echoing from city alleys to village crossroads. This is because elections are approaching in the country. As February 21 approaches, candidates are going door-to-door seeking votes from the electorate. Music is further heating up the atmosphere.

Music possesses a wonderful power that directly touches human emotions. Perhaps that is why every political party has adopted music as a medium for election campaigning. Such songs contain lyrics that directly ask for votes, promote party agendas, election symbols, and the personalities of leaders.

In this election campaign, songs such as 'Congress Changed, We Will Change the Country', 'Gagan Dai, Center of Youth Hope and Trust', 'I am UML, You are UML', 'I am UML', 'Balen Government Next Time', 'Ring the Bell', 'Prachanda, National Leader', and 'Rise from every village, rise from every settlement' are being played at the respective parties' door-to-door canvassing and election rallies.

 Many new songs have been produced for this year's election campaign. Some parties have also utilized older songs. Campaign songs are not limited to door-to-door visits; their use is widespread on social media platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram.

 The Nepali Congress appears to be heavily using the song titled 'Will Stamp on the Congress Symbol (Rukha)' this time. Sung by Bimalraj Chhetri and Priti Ale, with music by Khem Pun and arrangement by Krishna KC, this song was prepared for the 2079 elections.

 Besides this, the Congress is also playing songs like 'Gagan Dai, Center of Youth Hope and Trust', 'Congress Has Come', 'Nepali Congress Zindabad', and 'The Four-Starred Flag Fluttering'. The song 'Congress Changed, We Will Change the Country', released this year, is currently gaining much attention, featuring vocals by Bimalraj Chhetri and lyrics and music by Pankaj Paudel.

 Radhika Hamal, Treasurer of the Congress-affiliated Cultural Federation, states that different songs have been produced depending on the location and candidate. She has prepared personal songs for many candidates. However, Radhika has some reservations about the Congress slogan in the song, 'Congress Changed, We Will Change the Country'. She says, 'The lyrics might be the concept of Gagan Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma brothers. But my objection is, why change Congress itself? Shouldn't we rather remove the bad aspects within the party and change the country!'

 Although ideological differences within the party are natural, she mentions that they are engaged in creating campaign songs while respecting the party's directives and leadership.

 CPN-UML has prioritized popular songs like 'I am UML, You are UML' and 'I am UML'. Additionally, songs such as 'UML Has Come', 'Good UML in a Good Nepal', 'Vote for the Sun', and 'UML Here, UML There' are resonating in the election arena.

 New songs prepared for UML this year include 'Salalala Salalala, Our Sun Has Risen Brightly' and 'Jamri Maya'. 'Salalala' features vocals by Baikuntha Mahat, Baburam Panthi, and Priya Bhandari, while 'Jamri Maya' features Lakshmi Acharya and Baikuntha Mahat.

 Baikuntha Mahat, Vice-Chairman of the UML Lumbini Province Accounts Committee and folk singer, states that music is the simplest medium to convey politics to the hearts of the people.

 'I have never taken a single rupee in return for the songs I have sung for the party to date,' he says, 'This is my personal desire and ideological commitment to the party.' According to Mahat, campaign songs are also a means to remind leaders of their 'Commitment Letter.'

 Similarly, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), which emerged as an alternative force, has also brought many songs into use for promotion. Among these, songs like 'Ring the Bell' and 'Balen Government Next Time' are in the spotlight.

 According to RSP Spokesperson Manish Jha, since the party's election symbol, the 'Bell', is a sound in itself, it has been artistically incorporated into the songs.

 'Especially in Madhesh Province, there is a flood of songs. While traveling, I have heard more than 500 different campaign songs,' says Jha, 'Currently, the song titled 'Tan Tan Tan Ghanti' is very popular.' Jha adds that these songs for RSP are being created not only centrally but also spontaneously by local youths.

The Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) is predominantly using songs titled 'Red Star', 'Red Star', and 'Vote for the Star' this time. 'Lal Tara' features music by Ramkumar Nepali and vocals by Smita Dahal.

According to former Senior Vice-President of the Janasanskritik Mahasangh, Chetan Sapkota, many campaign songs have been created this time using 'AI' technology. 'This time, the songs emphasize achievements like federalism, republic, and secularism,' Sapkota says, 'The song 'National Leader Prachanda is with the People' remains equally popular.'

Not just Congress, UML, RSP, and Maoists, but also Rastriya Janamorcha, Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), and all other parties in the electoral field have entered the fray with their respective musical arsenals. Since the songs used in this manner simply explain years of political relationships and complex agendas in an easy manner, the influence of music in the election arena appears to be significant.