Ankita Pradhan, the powerhouse teenage vocalist from Kanthi (Contai) in Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal, is headed to Dubai for the next phase of Indian Idol.
The young singer, who has made waves as the only contestant from West Bengal to secure a spot in the Top 10 of the prestigious TV show, nearly saw her dreams derailed by a bureaucratic hurdle.
As the competition shifted to Dubai, Ankita faced a hurdle to her dream – she could not travel abroad without being accompanied by an adult guardian. While her mother was ready to accompany her, a long-pending passport application threatened to keep them both grounded, potentially forcing Ankita to withdraw from the show.
The situation took a turn when the matter was brought to the attention of TMC MP from Diamond Harbour Abhishek Banerjee. Recognising the urgency of the young singer’s dilemma, Banerjee intervened to expedite the process.
“Through his (Banerjee’s) efforts, the long-awaited passport was issued without delay,” said a staff member from the TMC leader’s office.
Ankita and her family expressed their heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for the timely assistance from the TMC leader, noting that the intervention saved a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
In a video message posted on her Instagram handle, Ankita said, “I am making this video today to share something specific. A few days ago, my mother and I applied for our passports, but for some reason, the process got stuck… A brother figure suggested that I reach out to the offices of our Honorable Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and our beloved Abhishek Da. I followed his advice and informed them about the matter, and they helped me immensely. Later, I learned that Abhishek Da personally took the responsibility to look into the issue. Finally, our passports arrived within just three days, and we were able to travel to Dubai. So, thank you so much, Dada, for helping us this much. My mother and I are very grateful to you. Thank you, Abhishek Da! Once I am back in Bengal, I look forward to meeting our Honorable Chief Minister and our dear Abhishek Da.”
The news has brought immense relief to her hometown, where she is already a household name now.