Siliguri, March 11 :     Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) chief Subhas Ghising is all set to earn the distinction of being the only candidate to contest the March 17 Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council elections without visiting his constituency. In 1993, too, he did not set foot in his Soureni-Panighata constituency which returned him to the council unopposed. In the first polls in 1988, he captured the seat by routing the CPM?s Asharman Rai and even won the Mirik seat unopposed. Despite his opponents? allegations that he has always deserted his constituency at times of crisis, a majority of the 17,000-strong electorate have remained loyal to the Gorkha leader. Last year, Ghising?s detractors tried to corner him when he failed to visit the constituency after over a dozen persons died due to consumption of contaminated water. Besides, he is often accused of turning a blind eye to the residents of a tea estate in the area who are on the verge of starvation. The Tea Trading Corporation of India-run garden has remained shut for many years. Lying between the Balason and the Mechi rivers which separate the constituency from Nepal, most areas in Soureni-Panighata are backward. Potable water is scarce. However, Ghising?s projection as the ?liberator of the Gorkha?s from slavery? and the GNLF?s overwhelming organisational strength have put the Gorkha leader far ahead of his rivals. The Gorkha leader is pitted against the CPM?s Prem Bahadur Tamang, the CPRM?s C.B. Sinchuri as well as Kailash Khawas who failed to withdraw his candidature as he could not make it to the office of the sub-divisional officer, Kurseong, on time. The entire stretch from Panighata to Soureni near Mirik is painted with slogans like ?Vote for his highness Subhas Ghising, the creator of the Gorkha race?. Barring some pockets like Lohargarh and Panighata tea estate, there is virtually no sign of the other candidates, The only satisfaction the opposition has derived is from the fact that Ghising cannot win the seat unopposed. ?We did not want to let him win unopposed this time? a CPRM leader said. Expressing total allegiance to Ghising, GNLF panchayat member from Panighata Pravin Lama said: ?Our leader does not need to come here as his victory is certain and he has to campaign for others. We can take care of things here.? Another leader L.B. Rai regretted that they could not help Ghising win unopposed. He said besides construction of a bridge over the Balason river, the council has taken up a number of projects. ?But our problems can be fully solved only if we achieve Gorkhaland,? he added. But few can explain the GNLF?s contention that Darjeeling?s status in India has been made unclear by the 1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty. The CPM?s lone sitting councillor Tara Sundas complained he has been deprived of support from his comrades in the Bong-Dungra constituency in Kalimpong subdivision. ?None of our leaders have come to campaign for me?, he said. Infighting in the CPM led to the withdrawal and cancellation of a number of party nominations this time, inviting charges from other anti-GNLF parties over the Marxists? seriousness about opposing Ghising. The party has fielded candidates in just 17 of the 28 seats.