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Voters Speak: Will GST Woes Dampen BJP’s Poll Prospects in Surat?

Among the prominent issues that people talked about were GST, demonetisation, as well as infrastructure in Gujarat.

The bustling Chowk Bazaar in Surat, Gujarat. 
The bustling Chowk Bazaar in Surat, Gujarat. 

Elections are coming, Gujarat! Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress vice president have already carried out intense campaigning in the state. So, we at The Quint decided to speak to people from Surat’s Chowk Bazaar area, to know what issues will define the aam aadmi’s vote.

Among the prominent issues that people talked about were GST, demonetisation, as well as infrastructure and services in the state, including water supply, roads and sanitation. Watch the video below to see what people had to say:

Purshottam, a shopkeeper who sells ladies purposes at the Surat market, claims that his business had suffered due to GST.

GST is the main issue for me. I don’t find anything good with it, despite the BJP claiming so. We don’t know how it works. There’s GST on just about everything. Along with GST, note ban has also negatively affected my business.

Interestingly, another person, while lamenting the imposition of the new tax regime, still says that her vote will be for BJP because of Narendra Modi.

“Modi ji has done good work,” she explains.

Meanwhile, an elderly man in the area, asserts that he won’t be putting much thought while casting his vote.

Jahaan haath lage wahaan sahi,” he remarks, adding that the BJP has done good work in the state. He goes on to say:

“We are living in a BJP area, so we have to vote for them. Otherwise, we’ll get beaten up.”

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