Another aspect of the ‘Indian Idol’ contest was that it was on a popularity rating through SMS votes. This is where the muscle flexing came in. The Tamang fan clubs that sprouted all over the hills were patronised by a businessmen-contractors combine. Funds were raised to buy cell phone recharge cards and volunteers were recruited whose sole job was to ensure maximum polling. According to one estimate, Tamang is said to have polled over 10 crore votes over the entire selection process. Its total cost would be over Rs 30 crore if each SMS is calculated at Rs 3.

Such an expensive campaign invariably had its pitfalls. There were allegations of extortion and high-handedness. Vehicles plying from Siliguri to Darjeeling and Sikkim had to pay for cell phone re-charge cards. The local business community saw it as a business opportunity and “donated” generously. In the process, the Nepalese-non Nepalese divide got deepened and took an extremely ugly turn in Siliguri — testifying to the region’s rapidly changing demography.

The only reprieve was that the local administration acted fast and contained a possible backlash in the hills. But the inherent, latent hostility continues to remain in the region.