Eye on youth votes, INLD gets rapper Honey Singh on board

The INLD, which has a strong base among Jats and rural voters, said it roped in Honey Singh to reach out to the state’s youth voters. The rapper, whose songs dominate radio stations and are regularly featured in Bollywood films, has a substantial following among young adults.

The video, custom-made for INLD, features Honey Singh seeking votes for the party and its chief ministerial candidate Chautala. In the one-minute, 54-second video, the rapper sings in the native tongue: “Haryana is where food comprises milk and ghee. This song of Tau’s (former Haryana CM and INLD founder Devi Lal’s) party will be played across the state. On INLD’s victory, entire Haryana will dance and Yo Yo will dance along. Vote for spectacles (INLD’s party symbol), wake up Haryana’s youth, make Chautala victorious, sing along with Yo Yo.”

The video was launched alongside INLD’s election campaign here Thursday. Though the rapper was expected to attend the event, he could not make it as he was injured while shooting a video, his associates said.

“What’s wrong with roping in Yo Yo Honey Singh? He has sung and composed a video for INLD so that the youth can associate with the party. He is with us in our campaign,” Karan Chautala, senior INLD leader Abhay Chautala’s son, said.

Dushyant Chautala, the INLD MP from Hisar, said, “Since Honey Singh is a popular youth icon, we brought him on board. As far as controversies are concerned, who is not controversial these days? Did Narendra Modi become PM without any controversies?”

Party sources said that Honey Singh is also likely to campaign at a few places across Haryana to “inspire” youth to join him and support INLD. He may also release more videos to seek support for the party.