Despite sealing, GST, noteban, traders keep faith in BJP

NEW DELHI: Despite the suffering of the sealing, the trader's community in Delhi voted for the BJP as all the trader-dominated areas like New Delhi, Chandni Chowk and West Delhi, BJP performed better than the last time.

Till the last day of the before the poll, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal tried to reach out to the traders.

The trader community of Delhi have always voted for the BJP earlier but after the demonetisation, GST and sealing the parties thought that the BJP might lose the

support.

Delhi has many wholesale markets, these an integral part of this constituency.

What greets you first here is the stench from open drains and the sight of congested lanes.

Voters here are mainly from the trading class, and despite personal political leanings, issues like GST implementation and demonetisation resonate among shop owners.

"Traders have always supported the BJP and this time for us it was clear that in Center Modi will come hence the community felt that if we vote for AAP or Congress then we would not get the help of the BJP in future," said a trader leader who did not want to be named.

He added that despite the losses in the sealing and other issues the traders always looked for a party which will rule the country.

"Whatever happens in the politics is their matter but we have to survive and do business. Only a strong political formation can give benefit to us. AAP will never come in the centre and Congress was not very active in the city hence we voted for the BJP," he

said.

In the seats like New Delhi trader community has a vote share of nearly 30 per cent and in Chandni Chowk also the vote sharing is higher. In both, the seats the AAP became the distant third.

"We tried to reach out to the traders but our narrative did not work in the ground. The fight for the traders will continue and we will work to stop the sealing drive in Delhi," said a senior AAP

leader.