Facing the heat literally with temperature expected to breach 43 C on voting day, PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah’s home state Gujarat is all set to vote for 26 Lok Sabha seats on May 7, 2024.
While inflation, surging unemployment and urban sustainability issues are the main grouses of voters this time round, lack of strong opposition candidates in most of the constituencies is causing concern that this may well be a one sided contest.
Says Arjun Mishra, a youth activist, “Voters are troubled about increasing inflation, surging unemployment and sustainability issues especially in urban areas. Also, the prevalence of contract based employment which is bereft of security benefits for employees has become an important issue among the young voters. ” Further, the unopposed election of the ruling BJP candidate has also shaken the morale of the voters. ‘There is a widespread perception that if the winner is going to be the ruling party then what’s the use of wasting your vote on anyone else? quips Mishra.
For the ruling party, widespread discontent amongst workers in industries like textiles and diamonds is also looming as a large problem. It may be mentioned that the Ukraine and Gaza conflicts have cast a shadow on these industries leading to production losses and mass unemployment.
Of the 26 Lok Sabha seats going to the polls Rajkot and Banaskantha are constituencies which will be closely watched. Reeling under the Kshatriya agitation, Rajkot may be a tough seat for BJP to retain. In Banaskantha constituency, Congress’s two-term MLA Geniben Thakor is expected to give a good contest to BJP’s Rekha Chaudhary.