Siliguri streets flooded with Prashant Tamang fans

Prashant Tamang can depend on a lot of votes from Siliguri.

Hundreds of fans of Prashant took to the streets today, holding up posters and banners, organising rallies and campaigning in favour of the Indian Idol contender. The final round of voting starts this evening after the two remaining contestants, Prashant and Amit Paul, perform one last time.

Amit, too, has a Siliguri connection, having spent his childhood years here before shifting to Shillong. However, the few posters and banners in his support seemed to be swamped by those in Prashant’s favour.

Members of Netrabindu Club of Salugara, who have formed a Prashant Fan Club, took out a bike and car rally across the city this afternoon.

“We are confident that he will emerge as the winner,” said club member Pankaj Pradhan. “Nevertheless, we don’t want to take any chances and want to ensure that people send more votes.”

With 65 motorcycles and 10 cars, the 500-odd rallyists also went to the West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited office to request for uninterrupted power supply when the show is telecast on Sony this evening.

“We have also requested officials of BSNL and other cellphone service providers to keep their lines clear so that people can vote as much as they want to when voting begins today,” Pradhan said.

Bengal urban development minister Asok Bhattacharya came out strongly in support of the hill talent.

“Like all his fans, I too want to see him emerge as the winner. His mellifluous voice has indeed mesmerised me,” the minister said.

BSNL authorities and other mobile phone service providers are playing safe.

“Since thousands of messages will hit our 50-odd base trans-receiving stations in the hills once the voting lines open, we have increased their capacity by three times,” said M.K. Nandi, the subdivisional engineer (public relations) of the Siliguri telecom district of BSNL. “In addition, all the 47 telephone exchanges in the hills have been put on alert. Employees have been deputed with necessary spares to avoid any problem.”

BSNL officials requested Prashant fans not to get impatient if there is a delay in getting the delivery reports of SMS votes. “Once a vote is sent, it will surely be delivered,” said an official.

Other mobile service providers, too, said they are ready to handle the messages that their customers would send in favour of the “new hero of Darjeeling”.

Source: The Telegraph

Pawan Chamling supports Prashant Tamang

Gangtok , Sikkim : Prashant Tamang’s mother was here in the capital for the second time to garner further support for her son.

Accompanied by her daughter and cousin, she was here to express gratitude to the people of Sikkim for bestowing continued support to Prashant as well as to appeal for further support for him to win the Indian Idol title, the mega finals slated to be held on September 23 this year.

During a brief halt here at the Titanic Point today, she also assured that Prashant will first visit Sikkim immediately after the Indian Idol contest.
The team also met the Sikkim Chief Minister today at the official residence at Mintokgang.

During the meet, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling assured that the people of Sikkim will definitely support to make Prashant the next Indian Idol. Stating that Prashant has united the hill people, Mr. Chamling said that this is a big achievement. “Since Indian Idol is a competition, there is no politics involved,” he added.

“No stones will be left unturned in making Prashant Tamang the next Indian Idol. Sikkim will extend its full support for Prashant in making an appeal to cast maximum votes in favour of Prashant,” the chief minister said while addressing the Panchayats in the state level Panchayat Sammelan. He also made a strong appeal to the Panchayats to pass on the message in their respective wards.

“Prashant will prove the country that the hill people can not only excel in mountaineering but also in music,” Mr. Chamling said adding “if possible all the telephone booths across the state would be opened throughout the voting days.
Comparing Prashant with Danny Denzongpa, Bhaichung Bhutia and Lt. Sonam Gyatso, the chief minister said that the victory of Prashant is not only his achievement but for the entire people of this part of the Himalaya.

Later today, the team also met the ministers of Sikkim including PS Goley, Minister, Building and Housing, GM Gurung, Minister, Human Resource Development Department, DD Bhutia, Minister, Urban Development and Housing Department, Hissey Lachungpa, Minister, Health and Family Welfare, SB Subedi, Minister, Forest and Environment, KN Rai, Minister, Rural Management and Development Department and TT Bhutia, Chairperson, Power Advisory Board.

They also met the DGP, DIG Head Quarter, DIG Range, Sikkim Armed Police, All Sikkim Driver Association and Main Line taxi Driver Association among others.

Source: The Sikkim Times

Vote for Prashant Tamang

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Prashant Tamang now gets hill parties' support

Darjeeling : Prashant Tamang’s run up to the final of Indian Idol has turned into a movement in the hills, uniting political rivals in the process.

Such is the fervour that posters had appeared in Kurseong yesterday seeking explanations for the silence of political parties on the issue.

The GNLF today called an emergency meeting in Darjeeling today to decide on its strategy. The meeting was attended by Deepak Gurung, I.N. Pradhan and Dawa Pakhrin, the presidents of the Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong branch committees, along with senior GNLF leaders like Gopimaya Gurung, Roshan Rai and Bhakta Jairu.

“It has been decided that all our councillors will mobilise support for Prashant. The meeting has been held on directions from Subash Ghisingh who has sent us a message,” said Deepak Gurung.

Ghisingh’s statement reads: “If any son or daughter like Prashant goes outside (Darjeeling) and upholds our name in any field I will be the first one to be happy. My best wishes and blessings are there for Prashant.”

ABGL president Madan Tamang issued a statement urging the people to be united for Prashant’s cause. CPRM leader D.S. Bomzom has also appealed to the people to vote for the local boy.

The apolitical All Gorkha Students’ Union has appealed to the Assam-based All Bodo Students’ Union and the All Jharkhand Students’ Union to help make Prashant the next Indian Idol.

Source: The Telegraph