Mixing melody in politics

Bhupen Hazarika is perhaps one of the biggest catches for the BJP. The Assamese singer and winner of the Dada Saheb Phalke award joined the BJP in the presence of Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

He was invited for 'tea' with Congress president Sonia Gandhi but preferred 'rice' with the BJP.

Hazarika had spent a large of part his life as a member of the pro-Left cultural outfit Indian Peoples Theatre Association. "The field of art should be used as a means for social change," he says.

Hazarika, 78, is not new to politics. He was an independent MLA in Assam between 1967 and 1972. "This is the first time in my life I have become a member of a political party," said Hazarika who became a household name by his heart rendering song Oh Ganga Tum Bahti Ho Kyun.

There were indications from 'Bhupenda' that he would be contesting the Lok Sabha election from Tezpur in Assam.

Photo: Ranjan Basu/Saab Press

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