The diamond industry, earlier divided over continuing their political support to the BJP in the next assembly elections.
While diamond lobby lashes out at the CM
AHMEDABAD/SURAT: The diamond industry, earlier divided over continuing their political support to the BJP in the next assembly elections, now clearly seems to be veering towards the anti-Modi camp.
Sources close to the diamond traders claim that not more than 20 per cent of voters from the industry are aligning with the BJP now. Reason: many from the community feel that the party and the chief minister have done nothing for the community.
A significant development is that the till-now apolitical electorate of the diamond merchants of Bhavnagar and Amreli are also giving positive feelers to rebel leaders during their sammelans there. Earlier, there was an internal conflict within the diamond trading community in the two districts, who happen to be Leuva Patels.
"For the past decade, nearly 80 per cent of their contribution to election funds was for the BJP and it ran into crores. The associations funded the party and individual traders funded MLAs for personal reasons.
This time, except a handful of big industrialists, who already have a business tie-up with BJP bigwigs, the bulk of voters associated with diamond trade are clearly anti-Modi," an informed source said.
While diamond biggies Jeevraj Darukhawala and Dhiru Gajera have lashed out at Modi, former president of Surat Diamond Association Nanu Vanani is still loyal to the BJP. Vanani is likely to be fielded on a BJP ticket from Surat.
President, Surat Diamond Association (SDA), Mulji Dhamelia told DNA, "Many diamond traders will support the enemies of Narendra Modi. The party has done nothing for them or the industry.”
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