The upcoming Bihar Assembly elections are heating up, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has identified a new battleground: music. Launching the NDA’s campaign from Samastipur, Modi warned of the Opposition’s use of aggressive, dialect-heavy songs that he believes evoke the dreaded ‘jungle raj’ era. He accused the Mahagathbandhan (Opposition alliance) of employing lyrics that reference firearms and threats, painting a picture of potential anarchy. A specific Magahi song, “Bhaiya ke aave de satta mein, utha leb ghar se re…,” was highlighted by the Prime Minister as a prime example of this unsettling trend.
Following Modi’s concerns, leaders from the ruling BJP and JD(U) have amplified the warning, urging voters to be vigilant against a potential return to lawlessness. The 2025 Bihar election landscape is marked by a surge in politically charged Bhojpuri and Magahi music, distributed widely across digital platforms. These tracks frequently feature caste pride, attacks on rivals, and intimidating messages for opponents. While many of these viral songs are implicitly or explicitly aligned with the RJD, the party denies any official affiliation, attributing them to independent singers. Despite this, songs like “RJD sarkar banto Yadav rangdaar banto…” by Amit Aashiq, which went viral after being associated with an event featuring individuals holding firearms, and “Lalu ji ke laalten, Tejashwi ji ke tel…” by Mithilesh Halchal have become unofficial anthems at pro-RJD gatherings. Other influential tracks include Gandhi Lal Yadav’s “bhaiya ke aave de satta, utha lebau ghar se re…” and Roshan Rohi’s “Ban jo chhaudi Tejashwi Yadav ke jaan….” The participation of popular artists like Khesari Lal Yadav in releasing RJD-backed music further underscores its growing importance. Political analysts are debating the actual impact of these songs. Some suggest the BJP is strategically using them to reignite fears of the past, similar to their approach in Uttar Pradesh, aiming to consolidate votes based on law and order concerns. Others contend that these songs are primarily viewed as entertainment by the electorate and are unlikely to dictate voting decisions, especially among younger voters who have no direct experience of the previous ‘jungle raj’. The election narrative is increasingly being shaped not just by speeches, but by the playlists that dominate public discourse, with provocative lyrics potentially influencing perceptions beyond traditional campaign methods.