Punjabi singers are fast becoming the wind beneath the state’s ruling Aam Aadmi Party’s wings. From Ranjit Bawa to Kanwar Grewal and Kulwinder Billa to Gulrej Akhtar — Punjabi artistes’ increasing presence at the state government’s public functions, to ready the (political) pitch before their “bai” (elder brother) Bhagwant Singh Mann reaches the venue, is creating quite a buzz.Last week, singer Ranjit Bawa performed at a state-level function addressed by CM Mann at Dana Mandi, Attari. Official sources in the Amritsar administration said he charged close to Rs 20 lakh for the Attari show. A day prior to the Attari function, he regaled the gathering at another rally held at Batala on April 16.He is not the only one being roped in by the AAP government to entertain crowds at its functions. Singer Kanwar Grewal performed during the state-level martyrdom day programme of Bhagat Singh at Banga on March 23. On April 7, Kulwinder Billa regaled the gathering at Sham Churasi in Hoshiarpur where the foundation stone for a community health centre was laid.On April 14, during the state-level function of Dr BR Ambedkar at Adampur, it was again Billa who kept the crowds entertained till CM Mann arrived. The next day, a state-level rally was held at Tanda where some development projects were launched. Popular singer Ranjit Bawa performed at the rally.Most of the singers, engaged by the state government departments, for lakhs of rupees, regale the audience for hours, before CM Mann takes the stage and changes the pitch from musical to political. Many of these singers are personal friends of Mann, from the days when he was a stage artist himself, and have often performed at his personal functions in the past because of their old camaraderie.There is nothing new in singers being engaged by the government of the day in Punjab to perform at government functions. In fact, their services have been used by all previous governments too to keep the crowds engaged till the CM or other dignitaries arrive. If Lakhwinder Wadali was the favourite to be called for government functions during the Akali-BJP government, and prominent Bollywood personalities would be called for kabaddi cup tournaments, during the Congress government’s tenure, Gurdas Mann was the flavour of the day, as was Pammi Bai.There was a time when only “dhadhi” jathas would perform on political stages. This is quite a change from that time.During the AAP government, Ranjit Bawa has got the maximum number of shows for performance, followed by Kulwinder Billa, Harjit Harman, Harbhajan Mann and Gurinder Bhullar. R Nait, who sang the election song for CM Bhagwant Mann — “Tere yaar nu dabban nu ferde si…” — has also got substantial number of functions. Sources say the maximum number of MLAs raise a demand for engaging Ranjit Bawa because he regales the audience continuously for three to four hours.The new thing, however, is the hike in charges by these singers, which run into lakhs of rupees now. With just a few months to go before the Vidhan Sabha elections, these government functions are increasingly becoming political rallies of the ruling party. Nonetheless, the state’s General Administration Department has been issuing orders saying that these are state-level functions, as has been the historic practice. But it is the nodal department which makes all arrangements and foots the bill. For example, if a new road network is to be inaugurated, the PWD will be the nodal department and will release payments for all arrangements of renting, lighting, food and entertainment, including payments running into lakhs to these singers.No one in the district administration in Amritsar, Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur was willing to disclose the exact amount that is being paid by the state exchequer to these singers. The officials concerned in Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur said the charges were paid by the respective nodal departments which organised a particular function and these charges varied from singer to singer, based on their popularity and negotiations made by the department concerned.In Amritsar, official sources said Punjabi singer Nachhatar Gill was given about Rs 4 lakh for the rally at Ajnala and over Rs 4 lakh was paid to Gulrej Akhtar, a female singer, for her performance at a rally in Majitha. Deputy Commissioner Davinderjit Singh said he was not aware of the amount paid to singers as he was yet to approve bills from nodal departments.