Kakarvitta:

The craze that has taken over India’s Darjeeling hills has also swept over eastern Nepal. The will to support Prashant Tamang, one of the Top 10 finalists in the very popular reality show Indian Idol 3, is so much that many have bought Indian SIM cards just to be able to vote him.

Tamang, a 21-year-old Kolkata Police sepoy from Darjeeling, is of Nepali origin, so perhaps the craze is justifiable.

The people of Nepali towns on the Indo-Nepal are keenly watching the show and they have thought twice about spending time and money to vote for Prashant, whose well-wishers can be found in places like Kakarvitta, Gurigunj and Bhadrapur of Jhapa, and Pashupatinagar of Ilam.

“I purchased an Indian mobile SIM card and have voted for Prashant via SMS as the network of Indian mobile works here,” said Maniram Rai in Kakarvitta.

“I have also taken recharge cards. I sent more than 100 SMS messages for Prashant in a day,” he added.

Like Rai, many in eastern Nepal had SMSed their votes for Prashant a few weeks ago.

“Prashant is not only the pride of Darjeeling, however, he is the pride of all Nepalis,” said one Govinda Acharya of Pashupatinagar.

“Nepalis along the Indo-Nepal borders where the network of Indian mobile phones work have been busy voting for Prashant through SMS,” said Santosh Agrawal of Gauriganj, a VDC in the southwestern part of Jhapa district.

“Ilam and Darjeeling share very friendly relations. Moreover, Prashant is one who speaks the Nepali language,” Acharya said, adding, “ The votes of Nepalis will greatly help Prashant in being crowned the next Indian Idol.”