Bhojpuri actor-singer to take on Akhilesh Yadav

NEW DELHI: “Khulal ba bhag aaj milal ba chance”, the lyrics of a Bhojpuri song meaning “destiny has smiled” come alive for actor-singer Dinesh Lal Yadav, popularly known as Nirahua, who is set to be the BJP nominee against Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav from the prestigious Azamgarh seat in eastern UP.
A Big Boss contestant, the Bhojpuri actor-singer had earlier joined SP and campaigned for the party but jumped to BJP in the presence of UP CM Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow on Wednesday.Another Bhojpuri actor Ravi Kishan is likely to contest from Jaunpur or Gorakhpur as the saffron nominee. The party had lost Gorakhpur seat to the SP supported Nishad Party candidate Praveen Kumar Nishad in the bypolls after Yogi Adityanath’s resignation.
A resident of Tandwa village in Ghazipur, Nirahua won the hearts of Bhojpuri audience with his album “Nirahua Satal Rahe”. Younger brother of Birha folk singer Vijay Lal Yadav, Nirahua was decorated with “Yash Bharati” award by the SP government. BJP sources confirmed that the Bhojpuri singer will be fielded against the SP chief as he is expected to influence a sction of voters in constituencies.