Subash Ghisingh stays away on election day, GJM hits out

Subhas Ghising's son Mohan

Amitava Banerjee, THT (Kolkata), 18 Apr 2014: DARJEELING: Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) president Subash Ghisingh did not cast his vote on Thursday. The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) was quick to react stating that Ghisingh was pressing his supporters to vote for the Trinamool Congress but himself refrained from doing so.

On the other hand, GJM president Bimal Gurung cast his vote at 9am at the Patleybash Community Hall, 4 km away from Darjeeling town.

Ghisingh had cast his vote in all past elections. On Thursday, too, a large number of mediapersons gathered in front of the booth to catch a glimpse, but he was nowhere to be seen. 

When asked whether Ghisingh would come down to vote, his supporters refused to divulge anything. This gesture was read as a security measure by most.

Incidentally, Ghising and the GNLF had been ousted from the Hills in 2008 by Gurung and his men. The GJM chief returned to Darjeeling from his political exile in Jalpaiguri on April 8, 2011.

The GNLF had fielded candidates in three hill constituencies in the last Assembly elections. Though defeated in all three seats, they managed to secure the second highest number of votes (42605 votes) after the GJM.

Ghising then had silently retreated to Jalpaiguri. On March 19, 2014 Ghising returned to his residence in Darjeeling on the Dr Zakir Hussain Road in Darjeeling.

April 4 saw Ghising formally announcing support to Trinamool candidate Bhaichung Bhutia in the Darjeeling constituency. As per his daily schedule, Ghising after his morning prayers had come down to the party office located on the premises of his residence. After lunch he went for his siesta.

Waiting for Ghising, mediapersons managed to catch hold of Mohan Ghising, the son of Subash Ghisingh. At 2:50 pm Mohan arrived at the BT college to cast his vote. When asked whether Ghising would cast his vote, Mohan said, “I cannot say for sure whether my father will come to vote or not.”

Though the GNLF leaders did not comment on Ghising’s absence, sources close to the GNLF claim that Ghising is not keeping well. There are unconfirmed reports of plans to take Ghising down to South India for treatment soon.

“Ghising has been asking his supporters to cast their vote in favour of the Trinamool but himself refrained from doing so. He must have understood that Trinamool will lose in Darjeeling hence he backed out. This also shows his dual nature,” said Roshan Giri, GJM general secretary.

Meanwhile, Gurung arrived at the Patleybash Community Hall at 9am and cast his vote. Earlier his voting centre used to be located at Puttabong Tea Estate.

“The BJP candidate SS Ahluwalia, backed by the GJM, will definitely emerge victorious. The BJP will win by more than one a half lakh votes” claimed Gurung.