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Is Sandeep being sidelined?
Karunya appears to be promoted more than his Indian Idol co-finalist
Subhash K Jha
Sony TV seems to be focusing almost single-mindedly on promoting Karunya as the Indian Idol, leaving the other finalist Sandeep looking like a loser even before the grand finale.
"That isn't true," says a channel spokesperson. "Sandeep and Karunya are being seen as equally worthy of securing the title. It's just that Sandeep has tremendous support in the audience poll from his home state, Rajasthan, while Karunya just can't seem to generate the same kind of interest in Hyderabad and the rest of Andhra Pradesh. We don't want Karunya to lag behind because of lack of votes."
But Sandeep who visited his home town Bikaner last week and was greeted like a true hero, disagrees. "I don't think Karunya is lagging behind for lack of votes," he says. "I think we both get support not just from our home statess but also from the rest of the country. Everywhere we're both greeted with equal enthusiasm. It isn't as if I get votes from Rajasthan alone, or that Karunya doesn't get votes from Andhra Pradesh. He's a hot favourite." Sandeep is ecstatic about his visit to his home town. "I was in Bikaner for just one day. And I was stunned by the enthusiasm of the crowds. They tore my shirt and the stage shook when I was on it... because so many people got onto it just to be near me." Sandeep is optimistic about winning the Indian Idol crown. "There's very little time left now," he says. "I hope people vote for me from all over the country. Dekhte hain, jeet kiski hoti hai. (Let's see who wins). I'm ready for either of us to win. Regardless of the result, we're friends. We've both left it to God to decide for us."
• I hope people vote for me from all over the country
— Sandeep
Cricket
