Poultry and fish traders likely to vote for Congress

Though Congress is fishing in troubled waters to ensure victory in the coming assembly election, but traders at one of Asia’s biggest fish markets in Ghazipur have decided to extend their support to the national party.

The market, which spreads across 15 acres accommodating nearly 15,000 small and big fish traders, holds more than 75,000 votes including the family members of the traders. This many feel, could be a great relief for any political party in securing seats, where the competition will be close.

However, ‘satisfied’ with Congress’ mass developmental projects for the betterment of people involved in the fish trade, they have decided to go with the party in their respective constituencies.

Most of the people associated with the fish trade live around Jama Masjid, Seelampur, Okhla and Laxmi Nagar and belong to the minority community. 

Speaking to Millennium Post, Riyasat Ali, chairman of the Ghazipur Fish Market said, ‘One cannot deny that Congress government has carried out many developmental projects for us. This is the reason our traders are doing good business without facing any problem.’

He said, ‘They have given free medical facility, free education, new schools to our children and basic sanitation facility to us. We are happy with the performance of the Congress government and we are hopeful that our traders in their respective constituencies will vote for them.’

Ali said, once Congress comes to power they will demand a mobile medical van on the premises of the fish market, better maintenance and more primary schools for their children.

‘Not only us, traders at the poultry market which also spreads across another 15 acres will also vote for the Congress. Initially, there were some differences of opinion among us over many issues. But now it seems that the wave is in favour of the Congress,’ Yunus, another wholesaler at the market, said.

There are approximately 9,000 poultry traders. Along with their family members they account for more than 40,000 votes. Taken together, fish and poultry traders, have around one lakh votes in their hands. ‘This is good amount and can be a decisive factor,’ Mohammad Salim, a fish trader, said.