A file picture of Prakriti singing at a campaign for Prashant Tamang in Darjeeling

Darjeeling, Dec. 14: Indian Idol has been long conquered. Now the hill people are getting ready for the next voting battle on the television screen.

This time the aim is to help 12-year-old local girl Prakriti Giri win Amul Star Voice of India—Chhote Ustaad, a televised talent-search contest for young singers.

In scenes reminiscent of the days before Prashant Tamang was voted Indian Idol, the office of Prakriti Giri Fan Club was formed in Darjeeling today. A blogspot — http://prakritigiri.blogspot.com — was also launched to let more people know about the young talent from the hills.

“I hope that the hill people will support my daughter just as they rallied behind Prashant,” said Prakriti’s mother Manju as she inaugurated the fan club office at Sai Ratna School at Chowrastha here.

Residents of Haridashatta in Darjeeling — Prakriti hails from that locality — have already started mobilising funds from the town. “We are in touch with our people in Bangalore, Sikkim and Kalimpong too,” said T.R. Sharma, a neighbour of the Giris.

During the Indian Idol contest, Nepali-speaking people from across the globe had supported Prashant by sending lakhs of votes through phone calls and text messages. Prakriti, who is currently among the Top 12 contestants in Chhote Ustaad, will need votes as well as the judges’ verdict to go in her favour to remain in the fray once the elimination round starts from December 21.

According to the rules of the contest, one can send only 20 votes per contestant from a particular mobile/landline number during the voting period that follows each episode of Chhote Ustaad in Star Plus. Voting lines are open for nearly a week after the show is telecast on Friday and Saturday.