Shillong, Jan. 27: Music, both traditional and western, has often been a key feature of electioneering in Meghalaya. But the Nationalist Congress Party?s latest innovation ? release of an audio cassette in praise of Purno A. Sangma ? has created ripples, especially among rural voters in Garo Hills.
The album, Chadambe Chasong Gitalrang (Youth of the new generation), ?very musically? appeals to the voters to vote the party to power.
?It is a different experience to hear such good Garo songs and that too on elections,? said Balsa Marak as she sang a line from the title song, P.A. Sangma tangbangchina (Long live P.A. Sangma) as well as other songs in the cassette such as Mitela Mitelinga... (Thank you God for giving Purno Sangma) and Lekka Puonachi? (We should vote for NCP, our land will shine).
The cassette, containing 10 songs, is a mastermind of Purno A. Sangma?s son Conrad D. Sangma who has also plunged into politics. Conrad Sangma, a business administration graduate, and his team of NCP youth workers recorded the cassette in Tura studios. Termed as ?sentimental songs? by NCP leader and home minister Lotsing A. Sangma, the numbers have been sung by popular Garo singers like Hamilton Momin and Marcus D. Shira. The album has become quite popular in Tura.
?The price (Rs 50) is reasonable and affordable by all. More important, it has a message which can be best drilled in through music,? said Gopal Purkyastha, a prominent NCP youth worker. He said 5,000 copies of the cassette had been recorded.
The NCP, which is looking for ?a solid debut? in the Garo Hills, is hoping to realise its dreams with this novel way of campaigning.
The party was recently, rocked by the resignation of some senior members. ?The party has suffered severe blows recently, but the craftily-planned election campaign by the NCP youth wing has done the party a world of good,? said Mestonath D. Shira, an NCP supporter.
Garo Hills is simmering with election fervour. ?It?s like a carnival here and people get involved with anything new, notwithstanding the fact that development is almost nil,? said Ashok Momin. With the NCP planning an extravagant campaign, the hills of Meghalaya are already reverberating with the sounds of the bom and the bhuri (traditional drums and flute) accompanied by folk songs.