AAP's band to perform for Congress in run-up to February Assembly polls

NEW DELHI: A Hindi pop band that lent its music to the Anna Hazare stir against corruption at Jantar Mantar and, subsequently, the Aam Aadmi Party campaign as a mark of support to the anti-graft movement will now be performing for Congress in the run-up to assembly polls likely to be held in Delhi in February.
Saaz is Congress's answer to AAP, the party chosen by youth the last time around.

A Nukkad Natak Mandali, too, is preparing to add punch to the Congress campaign, especially in slums, unauthorized colonies and resettlements. This aside, a radio campaign in which the party plans to present the condition of Delhi in 'her' own words by way of an emotional first person account will be launched early next week.

Posters and hoardings of Congress have already started appearing in authorized spaces like bus shelters. They bear the slogan, "Sabka vikas zaroori hai, Congress ke bina Dilli adhoori hai".

TOI caught up with Saaz and the street drama team during a rehearsal at Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee headquarters. Accompanied by the others, Kashish, who's pursuing a bachelor's degree in music, sang

the catchy Congress theme song, "Haath ko haath hai". On the sidelines of the practice, band members shared they are now ready to perform in the 70 Delhi constituencies.

Vijay Sharma, business manager of Saaz, said there are over 40 performers on board. These young students, who are from backgrounds as diverse as commerce and music, have joined Congress as members.

While Saaz performs its theme song, a short video will be played on LED screens mounted on campaign vehicles depicting the history of the party from Independence to the present day. Former prime ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party vice-president Rahul Gandhi will figure on the video. While former CM Sheila Dikshit who led Delhi for 15 years fails to make an appearance, DPCC president Arvinder Singh does get a few seconds coverage. The video seems to indicate the party is banking on the Gandhi family for revival. It also reflects the changing profile of the grand old party in which a new leadership is trying to chart its course.

The campaign that takes off next week will see the band perform in places frequented by youth such as areas around college campuses, malls, markets and events.

"The band is our way to reach out to the youth with the promise of development. Our Nukkad Natak teams will take the Congress message to the people living in unauthorized colonies, resettlements and slums," DPCC president Arvinder Singh said.

The street plays contain humorous elements, featuring an actor playing a coughing, muffler-clad Arvind Kejriwal and another playing PM Narendra Modi. The actors begin by showcasing achievements like Metro and flyovers that came up during Congress rule, then quickly move to take on Arvind Kejriwal and BJP for failing to bring down power tariff and not delivering on development vows.