Migrants unmoved by UP civic poll results

Surat: A textile trader from Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Anil Rai, who is now settled in Surat, remains unmoved by BJP's massive win in the civic elections of Uttar Pradesh, the results of which were announced on Friday. Rai feels that the people in Uttar Pradesh have voted for BJP due to Aditya Nath Yogi's popularity and his good works, but that does not mean citizens here will do the same when Surat goes to polls in the first phase of assembly elections on December 9.

"Goods and Service Tax (GST) and demonetisation have caused us heavy losses. Who is going to repay for our losses?" Rai asked.

A large number of Hindi-speaking people residing in the assembly segments of Choriyasi, Udhna and Limbayat would vote for someone who can represent them in Gujarat assembly.

Textile businessman Ajay Mishra said, "The results of UP civic elections don't matter to us. We are going to support our own leader because we have no voice of Hindi-speaking community in Gujarat assembly."

There are more than 70,000 Hindi-speaking voters in Choriyasi constituency of the total 4.17 lakh voters. Here, voters traditionally have been BJP supporters. BJP had won Choriyasi seat with more than 60,000 votes in the 2016 byelection. If the Hindi-speaking people vote against BJP for an independent candidate from their community, there could be an interesting tri-cornered contest here.

A textile exporter Mukesh Kumar said, "UP civic election results are not going to have any impact on polls here. Hindi-speaking voters could have a major effect on the seats of Udhna, Limbayat and Choriyasi."

Figures put the number of voters from UP settled in the city at 2 lakh. Those who settled in Surat before a decade-and-a-half have formed groups and can vote for any political party, while others among them vote as per their political ideology.

North Indian community in the last few months had come on a single platform to demand more trains towards north India. They even held a massive rally in the city.

Former general secretary of the city unit of BJP Ajay Choudhary, who is contesting as an independent candidate from Choriyasi assembly constituency, believes he has the backing of the Hindi-speaking community.

by via Surat News, Latest Surat News Headlines & Live Updates - Times of India