Voices of Gujarat: ‘Will Give Cong a Chance’, ‘Kahaan Hai Vikas?’

From unemployment to inflation, watch these five voters talk about what will define their vote this election.

From unemployment to inflation, watch these five voters talk about what will define their decision this election.

(Photo: The Quint)

A 32-year-old paan seller, an auto-rickshaw driver, an academician and many others – Watch these people from Gujarat tell us what will define their vote this election.

'I Will Give Congress a Chance This Time': Pan Seller

For 32-year-old paan seller Umashankar Yadav, the BJP’s promise of 'acche din' has not been fulfilled yet.

“We vote for the party that seeks to bring vikas (development). But we don’t see any vikas around us right now,” Yadav explains as the reason for not voting for the BJP this time around.

I’ve always voted for BJP, but this time I will vote for Congress. Let’s give them a chance too.

The Surat resident is fed up of the lack of electricity and water in his area, and cites that as one reason for being disgruntled with the current government.

‘CNG Price Has Increased, But Our Fare Remains The Same’: Auto-Rickshaw Driver

For 43-year-old auto-rickshaw driver Pappu Yadav, issues such as potholes on roads, CNG price-rise and GST have left him disillusioned with the government, and would determine his vote in Gujarat elections.

The BJP has been in power for 22 years in Gujarat. But the roads here have more than two-feet deep potholes. The rate of CNG has increased by three-and-a-half rupees. But the rickshaw fares haven’t even increased by a rupee.

He also blames the implementation of demonetisation and GST for bringing down his earnings.

Since GST, our earnings have reduced from Rs 400-500 to Rs 200-300.

‘BJP Needs to Change Things Around, Otherwise Congress Will be in Power in 2019’: Businessman

34-year-old businessman Rishi Mahendra Modi from Valsad is a harsh critic of the BJP-led government, and emphasises more on the 2019 general elections rather than upcoming Gujarat polls.

He says if the BJP does not change things around, it will be the Congress which will win the 2019 elections.

Since BJP won Lok Sabha elections in 2014, we have been facing troubles. Corruption and rioting have increased. GST, inflation and demonetisation have made my business go down. There’s large-scale unemployment.

'Even With ‘Beti Bachaao, Beti Padhaao’, Poor Families Can't Afford Education Fees': Bhumi Patel

27-year-old Bhumi Patel, a voter from Ahmedabad, laments the patchy implementation of government's Beti Bachaao, Beti Padhaao scheme.

The government has initiated the scheme but there are poor families of the general caste who are unable to afford the fees in government schools and colleges. I think this is a big issue.

The waterlogging in the area where she lives post monsoons is also an issue that will help her decide on who to vote for.

There’s all this talk about <i>vikas</i>. What is <i>vikas</i>? The monsoons have just ended and we can’t even step out because of waterlogging.

‘Where are the Employment Opportunities in Gujarat?’: Academician

44-year-old Nirali Shah is a Rajkot-based academician, voicing her concerns about large-scale unemployment in the state.

I’m from the education field and I feel employment-related issues is one of our biggest problems. There is no support being given to the education or entrepreneurship sectors.

For Shah, the party which shows more promise of supporting employment opportunities for the youth in Gujarat will get her vote.

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi had in an earlier speech attacked the Gujarat government of failing to provide employment to the youth. He said that nearly 30 lakh youths were unemployed in the state.