To be embroiled in a political battle must have been the last thing A R Rahman thought of while composing his Oscar-winning signature tune, Jai Ho!. But even as the Congress has got the rights of Jai Ho!, a hit number from Slumdog Millionaire, CPI(M)’s Kolkata North candidate Md Salim has already started using the song in his campaign.

A day after the CPI(M) declared its list of candidates for the Lok Sabha polls in the state, at least 200 posters announcing Salim’s candidature with Jai Ho! written in Bengali were seen all over his constituency.

A sitting MP, Salim defended himself by saying, “My posters say Joi Ho! — Bengali for victory. These words are no one’s personal property.”

On the other hand, Subrata Mukherjee, senior Congress leader and spokesperson of WBPCC, said, “We will take pictures of the hoardings and send it to the Election Commission.” Congress leaders said the song will be played during rallies in rural towns, villages and cities.

Salim’s constituency has slum areas of Entally, Rajabazar, Park Circus and Beliaghata. Party insiders say that the slogan has been designed to attract both the slum dwellers and the youth.

Lok Sabha polls are scheduled in the state in three phases — April 30, May 7, May 13.