Parties take music route for campaigning in Goa

PANAJI: Gelling well with the character of the state, Goa's Assembly election campaign is laced with a musical feast for the voters.

In the run up to June 2 polls, the political parties are releasing their own music CDs and live musical performance are becoming an integral part of public meetings.

In the BJP meetings, renowned Goan singer Soyaru Varde and his troupe, hired by the saffron party, ask the people to save the state from Congress rule through their songs and skits.

"It's easy to communicate with music to the people. Hence, we have chosen this medium," BJP's Goa spokesman Govind Parvatkar said.

Similarly, Churchill Alemao-led Save Goa Front and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), have their own music to canvass the voters.

Well-known actor, Prince Jacob, who is having his own 'tiatre' (a local theatre form) company, is singing songs for Alemao in his shows while famous tiatrist husband-wife duo Wilmix and Sharon lend their voice to NCP before its public meetings.

Jacob has penned a special `kantar' (Konkani song) appealing people to save Goa, which he sings during his daily shows. "We don't ask people to vote for anyone but people know to read between the lines," Jacob said.

For Save Goa Front, its founder president Sidhanath Buyao, son of legendary singer Ulhas Buyao, has become an added asset too. While Alemao's fiery speeches are in demand, there is also fan following for Buyao's songs.