Support Remanti and Robin

Support for Remanti and Robin
TT

Robin and Remanti urge students to send SMS for them at Sikkim Government College in Gangtok on Monday. Picture by Prabin Khaling

24 Oct, Gangtok: Their quest for support from the people of Sikkim and Darjeeling did not lasted a day due to the September 18 earthquake but now over a month has passed and normalcy has returned back here encouraging the singing and dancing duo of Remanti Rai (25) and Robin Mukhia (21) to reboot a voting campaign for being the ‘Northeast Ke Superstar’.
The two Sikkimese talents, Remanti and Robin have secured final spots in the singing and dancing events respectively in the ‘Northeast Ke Superstar’, a talent hunt contest organized by North East Council (NEC) for the eight Northeastern States.
Two contestants from each Northeastern State have reached in the grand finale for the dancing and singing categories which will be telecasted live from Guwahati on November 12. The winners of ‘Northeast Ke Superstar’ will get cash prizes and a 1-year contract with an event management company in dancing and singing categories.
Before the grand finale is held, the contestants have to seek votes through SMSes.
“Votes are required to win the event. Though the marks from judges will also count to some extent, votes received will matter most”, said Remanti and Robin.
Voting lines are open from October 28 till November 8 after the penultimate round is telecasted by DD Northeast on October 28 and 29. Video episodes of the ‘Northeast Ke Superstar’ are being telecasted in DD-Northeast thrice a week since September 7 tracking down the early days of the contest to the State-level champion round.
The Sikkimese duo had started their campaign to seek votes from the people of Sikkim and Darjeeling from September 16 but was left helpless after Sikkim was hit by the earthquake on September 18. Now, with things normalizing here, representatives from different sections of the society have come forward to pitch in for them under the banner of ‘Remanti, Robin Northeast Ke Superstar Fan Club’.
Pamphlets have been printed by the group which will be distributed to colleges, schools and market places here in Gangtok and other major towns of Sikkim. The group has already established contacts with organizations in neighbouring town of Kalimpong for promoting and seeking votes for Remanti and Robin.
“Representatives from different sections of the society here have come together to support Remanti and Robin. Our objective is not only to campaign for the two Sikkimese youths but also maintain strong bonds with our neighbours in Kalimpong and Darjeeling. This is a right way for all of us in Sikkim and Darjeeling region to revive and show solidarity like we have been doing earlier for Prashant Tamang and Bhaichung Bhutia”, said group member Joesph Lepcha, a Gangtok based journalist.
Lepcha said that the group members are already in touch with organizations in other urban areas of Sikkim and Kalimpong for promoting the duo. “Our first aim is to spread the message among all people to watch the episodes of Northeast Ke Superstar. Voting will then automatically come to the minds of the people”, he said.
Lepcha said that that prominent citizens of Kalimpong like renowned writer CK Shrestha and organizations like ‘Basibiyalo’ have already pledged support to the two Sikkimese contestants. “We have been invited by them to come to Kalimpong tomorrow and campaign there. We expect good response from Kalimpong as local organizations have already pledged to support us”, he said.
Group chief coordinator Mrs DK Lepcha said that all should support Remanti and Robin so that talents from a small State like Sikkim gets noticed in regional and national level.
“Our two children have reached the finals of a Northeastern regional level contest and we all should come forward to help them. The people of Darjeeling and Sikkim have always remained united in promoting and supporting the local talents. We had come together for Prashant Tamang, Bhaichung Bhutia and Parkriti Giri. Such initiatives help in maintaining vibrant relations among the neighbours”, said Mrs Lepcha, a housewife from Arithang.
Joseph Lepcha said that after visiting Kalimpong tomorrow, the group will be going to Darjeeling after Diwali. We will be installing two voting booths in Gangtok from October 29 so people can come and send SMSes votes for Remanti and Robin till November 8, he said.
Remanti will be singing two songs and Robin will be performing two dances during the grand finale.