Nepal PM meets Indian Idol Prashant Tamang

KATHMANDU: Nepal's Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala found time amid political uncertainties on Saturday to meet the kingdom's new heartthrob, Darjeeling boy Prashant Tamang, who has become a household name in India and Nepal after winning the TV talent hunt show Indian Idol .

It was also an unexpected honour for Prashant's companions, finalists Ankita Mishra and Deepali Kishor, when all three were invited to the prime minister's official residence in Baluwatar on Saturday morning.

"The prime minister asked me how I felt after winning the contest," a beaming Prashant said after the meeting.

"Then he put the Nepali topi on my head and gave me his blessings."

Koirala, who was wearing the black cap that is an integral part of his public persona, put a traditional Nepali cap on the head of the 24-year-old rising star, watched by smiling family members and Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula.

Prashant, who had serenely faced a nearly three-month long nerve-racking contest in a television channel to be selected winner out of nearly 23,000 aspirants, said he was nervous when he met the prime minister, since it was his first meeting with a leader about whom he had heard so much.

Music, he said with his trademark grin, had strengthened ties between India and Nepal. In response to coaxing by media persons, he sang a few lines of the Nepali song, Gorkhali ko chhoro mo , that had captivated the hearts of the Nepali-speaking diaspora during the contest.

On his maiden trip to Kathmandu, Prashant said he was overwhelmed by the love and support shown to him from Nepal and the effort made by Nepalis who used to go to Darjeeling to send SMS votes for him.

Sidestepping political questions, Prashant said he had joined the contest urged by friends who used to tell him he should try his luck.

"I joined the 'Indian Idol' contest without thinking of winning," he said frankly. "But after I reached the top three, I realised a lot of people wanted me to win."

Regretting that he was not a trained singer, Prashant said he would like to have some training now. However, he was not sure immediately whether he would give up his job with Kolkata Police.

"I am grateful to my superiors who gave me permission to take part in the contest," he said.

After a late night show at the Casino Royale following his arrival here on Friday, Prashant - along with Deepali, Ankita and Nepali pop star Nima Rumba - was set to rock the capital at a mass concert on Saturday afternoon.

On Sunday, Prashant is scheduled to sing in Pokhara town before returning to Mumbai on Monday.