Voices of Gujarat: ‘Women Have Freedom’, ‘BJP Will Suffer for GST’

From unemployment to women’s safety, these 5 voters talk about what will define their vote in the Gujarat elections.

(Photo: The Quint)

A 30-year-old transgender, a shopkeeper, a social worker and more – watch these people from Gujarat talk about what will define their vote this election.

We Want to Contest These Elections: 30-Year-Old Transgender

Based in Surat, 30-year-old Khushboo Kuvar wants to have candidates from the transgender community also fighting the upcoming Gujarat elections.

“There are 182 seats in the Gujarat assembly. Even if we get one seat, we will fight the upcoming elections… We want to show that we can do a lot of work. If we get the space, we will fight for the country.”

Like many others, Kuvar would vote for BJP primarily because of Modi, notwithstanding the fact that he is no longer the chief minister of Gujarat.

“Modi is doing good work for everyone. We want him to ensure that housing facilities and jobs are provided to our community.”

Determined to Defeat BJP Because of Large-Scale Unemployment: 28-Year-Old Businessman

Raising the issue of large-scale unemployment purportedly prevalent in Gujarat, 28-year-old businessman Harish Patel from Mehsana seems to be a supporter of the Hardik Patel-led Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti.

I haven’t decided who to vote for. But we are determined to defeat the BJP because they have allowed large-scale unemployment to persist. There is an atmosphere of chaos in Gujarat. The Patidar reservation movement is a result of unemployment.

Asserting that the Patidars have been facing injustice in education and jobs, he urges the government to address the question of the community’s reservation.

I Urge Modi to Help Find my Missing Son: 65-Year-Old Shop Owner

65-year-old shop owner Chandrikaben’s son has been missing for the last two years. A resident of Jamnagar, she appeals to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help find her son and bring him back.

We had informed the police after he went missing, but he hasn’t been found till now. The police tells us they are trying and will call us when he is found. But it’s been two years.

Chandrikaben praises Modi for having worked for the masses and the poor. Perhaps, this is the reason why she places her faith in the prime minister when it comes to finding her son.

Women Have a Lot of Freedom in Surat Because of Modi: Social Worker

For 69-year-old social worker Bimladevi Sabu, coming to Surat from Uttar Pradesh nearly four decades ago felt like “entering heaven”.

“In Surat, women have a lot of freedom. Today, we can go out at night without fear. This happened only after Modi became the Chief Minister of the state.”

She criticises the Congress and Rahul Gandhi for failing to give any suggestions for improving the implementation of GST.

But in the same breath, she says:

I believe a solution can only come from those who create the problem. Therefore, only BJP can give a solution to GST.

BJP Will Suffer if They Don’t Make Changes to GST: Shopkeeper

A shopkeeper in Surat, 50-year-old Mohammad Ahmed complains that the implementation of GST has reduced his clientele.

My customers are not even ready to buy a commodity worth Rs 100. They complain that GST has been levied on it. They say GST is preventing them from buying a lot of things.

The new tax regime seems to be the only thing on Ahmed’s mind ahead of the polls in Gujarat. In a forewarning to the BJP, he says:

If no changes are made to GST, then the BJP will suffer badly in elections. The Congress will win more seats.

Click here to listen to more such voices from Gujarat.

(Voices of Gujarat: Tired of listening to netas make promises? As Gujarat goes to polls, The Quint wants to listen to the real voices of Gujarat – the voters. Tell us what issues matter to you this election season. Send in your videos to [e-mail] or WhatsApp @ [phone])