GST Poorly Executed, but Will Still Vote for BJP: Surat Traders

The Quint spoke to the traders at Surat textile market, who said they are still loyal to the BJP.

What do the textile traders in Surat think of the GST?

(Photo: Meghnad Bose/The Quint)

Textile business is the pulse of Surat. But, the market has taken a hit and so have small-scale businessmen. Most of them aren’t well-educated. Around 90 percent of them are illiterate. Will they focus on paperwork or will they focus on their business? They go to chartered accountants for help but the CAs are confused too.

Trader, Surat Textile Association

The textile market is to Surat what Taj Mahal is to Agra. The trading community in this market has been a traditional vote bank of the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP). However, a massive protest was seen in July this year, when a large number of traders went on a two-week long strike against the 12 percent tax levied under the new GST tax slab.

Three months later, election fever has gripped Gujarat and The Quint spoke to a panel comprising members of the Board of Directors of the Surat Textile Mill and other stakeholders in the industry to know how the GST may affect the poll outcome.

Video Editor: Mohd Irshad Alam

Also Read: Will GST Affect Gujarat Elections? We Ask Surat’s Textile Traders

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