A powerful voice of a nine-year-old girl is bringing politicians and the public at large in Sikkim and the Darjeeling hills to a common platform, similar to an exercise in 2007 that became a catalyst for a political change in the hills.

Jetshen Dohna Lama from Pakyong in Sikkim is creating waves in TV reality show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li’l Champs aired by Zee TV.

She is among the top eight contestants at the moment and her progress is now linked to voting which is cast by dialling a missed call to a given number. It is the voting that is bringing the politicians to the forefront.

The Jetshen Support Group formed to canvas for the singer is helmed by Jacob Khaling, the political advisor to the chief minister of Sikkim. Sikkim ministers are also appealing for votes for the girl so that she is promoted to the new round.

In Darjeeling, politicians right from Anit Thapa, the chief executive of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, to Bimal Gurung, whose political success is linked to a similar event in 2007, have come out in support of Jetshen.

In 2007, Bimal Gurung was the chief patron of the Prashant Tamang Fan Club with Binay Tamang and Anit Thapa as active members. Prashant, a singer from Darjeeling, won a television reality show (Indian idol) then.

The Prashant Tamang Fan Club was instrumental in drumming up support for voting. The people of Sikkim also supported him in large numbers.

Gorkha National Liberation Front supremo Subash Ghisingh, who called the tune in the hills then, was not active in the campaign.

Once the TV show got over with Tamang emerging as the winner, the fan club got converted into a political party called the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha that overthrew Ghisingh.

“The Prashant Tamang Fan Club had helped the people heading the club connect with the public, paving the way for a political change,” said an observer.

Since Prashant Tamang’s episode, other singers in the region also participated in TV reality shows but none created a wave as Jetsen does now with her skills.

Sikkim politician Khaling said a series of events would be organised in Sikkim, the hills and the Dooars, from Saturday till Wednesday to seek support for Jetshen.

“The famous Mantra band of Darjeeling, singer Pushpan Pradhan of the Dooars and Tanmoy Choudhury of Siliguri will participate in these events,” Khaling said at a press conference in Siliguri on Wednesday.

Runners in the hills will also sport messages for Jetshen during the Mumbai Marathon which is scheduled for Sunday.

“We will also organise a 42km run in Darjeeling to seek support for Jetshen,” said Vikram Rai, the founder of Vik-Run.

Sudarsan Tamang, a professor from Sikkim who is also a lyricist and long-distance runner, said: “The population of Sikkim is less and hence, we need the support of other regions also. We are seeking votes because she is very talented and has already made a name in the country.”

Jetshen’s father Roshan said the singer was largely untrained. “She, however, managed to win the Sikkim Idol (Junior) two years ago. Jetshen has been away from home for the past five months with her mother Unish Hamal for the show.”

Jetshen support groups have also been formed in Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore and Dehradun, said Roshan.