Sujata’s rally woos voters with folk artistes

In a bid to make people aware of the steps taken by the Trinamool Congress government for the benefit of the folk artistes in the past four-and-a-half years, hundreds of artistes accompanied the party’s candidate from Behrampore Assembly constituency Dr Sujata Banerjee during election rallies in the area.

From Thursday onward in almost all road shows of Dr Banerjee, a professor of Krishna Nath College in Behrampore, folk artists participated.

The artists were engaged in the rallies from Thursday as it was Bengali New Year. Besides reaching to the people, it was also an initiative taken to welcome the New Year and to involve people in the cultural heritage of the state. Folk artists mainly bauls took part in the rallies and instead of shouting political slogans; artists sang the traditional songs of Bengal while walking in the procession. Hundreds of people from the area joined Dr Banerjee’s rally and congratulated her for taking the unique initiative. She was found walking amidst folk artists who were singing the songs which were composed keeping various development projects taken up by Mamata Banerjee in mind.

The rally moved on through the major thoroughfares in Behrampore city. This unique way of campaigning became successful when hundreds of local residents came out of their houses and gathered to listen to the songs. Besides Kanyashree and Sabuj Sathi projects, schemes taken up for benefits of the folk artist were also mentioned in the songs. Dr Banerjee stopped at important places where within minutes hundreds of people gathered to see her. 

Some were even found dancing at the tune of the music and said that this is the best way to celebrate New Year.

It is learnt that most of the artist who took part in the rally were from the local areas and it helped the workers of the political party to attract more people during the rally. The artists, too, were happy as they got an opportunity to perform. They expect that the rally would help them in promoting their art. Anamika Jana, a local resident, said people dislike the continuous blaring of loud speakers for election campaign as it not only creates sound pollution but affects the studies of children and aged people also feel irritated. 

“Thus the step to engage folk artists is really a unique way of campaigning. It helps the artists to earn some money. I would like to request representatives of all political party to take such steps for their election campaign,” she said adding that she feels it will help the politicians to get more votes in their favour.