Voices rise against VOI finale verdict

One understands that reality shows are more than often not won by the best but by the most popular contestant. However this was one result that came as a shock. At the grand finale of Star Voice of India, Uttar Pradesh's (UP) Harshit Saxena bagged most votes from East, West and the South of India but he lost out to Punjab's Ishmeet Singh, who won on account of his votes from the North. After Harshit's votes were announced from the three zones the audience was eager to hear the decisive result from the North zone. The battle was supposedly tilted in favour of Harshit but it was Ishmeet who was crowned the winner. To the surprise of all, the results of the North zone weren't declared but chief guest Lata Mangeshkar was made to announce the winner's name. Expectedly, the curious media sought an answer to the most important question i.e. what was Ishmeet's victory margin that made him the Voice of India? Harshit won 52, 60 and 55 per cent votes from East, West and South zone respectively. Logically Ishmeet needed an overwhelming margin from the North to win the title. Both the finalists were asked to comment on the actual number of votes at the press conference but both claimed ignorance to figures from the North. UP too falls in the North zone and thus it was all the more shocking as to how could Harshit lose? Was it due to lack of cell phones in UP? But reportedly UP possesses the largest number of cell phones in India. Or had the bomb blasts in Lucknow detracted voters from SMSing? VOI producer-director Gajendra Singh too did not have the actual vote count. Soon two officials from Star Plus took centre stage and announced, "The exact figure will be given to you shortly in the press release." After this a dissatisfied press soon left the venue. Star Plus has issued a press release which contains the break-up of votes. It reads; North region - Ishmeet - 63%; Harshit- 37% ; East region-Ishmeet- 48%, Harshit-52%; West region -Ishmeet- 40% , Harshit- 60% and South region -Ismeet- 45%, Harshit- 55% , so total percentage of votes received by Ishmeet-52% and Harshit-48%. As this issue is now poised to become a national debate it remains to be seen whether audiences will continue to actively vote for any more such reality shows. But what was most unfortunate was the fact that the winner was denied his moment of glory. It was a subdued Ishmeet who left the venue that night.