"Wining Asansol is not asan (easy). So I will put my heart and soul into it," says BJP's star candidate Babul Supriyo, grinning from ear to ear.

The Bollywood singer with hit numbers like Pari Hai Ek Pari..., Chanda Chamke... and Dil Ne Dil Ko Pukara... under his belt, is pitted against the sitting CPI(M) MP Banshogopal Chowdhury, and Trinamool Congress's Dola Sen in the industrial hub.

According to reports from Asansol, Babul, 44, is flooded with requests to sing a line or two wherever he goes in the constituency. He not only obliges everyone but has promised a public performance once the ban on loudspeakers is lifted after higher secondary examinations are over in 10 days.

"I am a novice in politics. But I am a big fan of Vajpayee and Narendra Modi is my friend. If I am elected and Modi becomes the prime minister, I will ensure that Asansol grows and develops at a very fast pace just like Gujarat ushering in prosperity for all," Babul said.

The playback singer says he is not intimidated by his opponents or the party machinery at their command. "If voters realizes that I can be their saviour then I do not have to worry. And voters can stop worrying after electing me. I will spend at least four days in Asansole every month and the rest in Delhi fighting for Asansol."

Babul is confident of bagging Asansol. But his optimism is not shared even by BJP workers who wanted the party to field a local leader. Asansole district BJP president Nirmal Karmakar admitted that Babul's candidature was resented but that chapter is over and campaigning is in full swing.

The singer criticizes Rahul Gandhi at the drop of a hat and accuses Congress of being unfair to Pranab Mukherjee by denying him the prime ministership. "The country needs a CEO like Modi who can efficiently run it. He has done wonders in Gujarat which should be replicated in the rest of the country."