Gujarat polls: This is how BJP plans on handling GST, Patidar, and tribals

According to BJP sources, the party is also wary of discontent among Patidars who have been its traditional voters, but are unhappy following their reservation stir.

Rakesh Ranjan  | Posted by Amit Vasudev
New Delhi, November 12, 2017 | UPDATED 08:34 IST
This is how BJP plans on handling GST, Patidar, and tribalsUnion Minister Smriti Irani campaigning in Gujarat

Highlights

  • 1
    BJP has shifted its focus to Gujarat where it is locked in a close contest post GST.
  • 2
    BJP leaders are reaching out to traders and convince them about long-term gains of GST.
  • 3
    BJP is facing a stiff challenge due to resentment in the trading community.

With polling over in Himachal Pradesh, the BJP has shifted its focus to Gujarat where it is locked in a close contest post GST. The party is working on a three pronged strategy - GST, Patidars and tribal displacement.

Party leaders have been told to reach out to traders and convince them about the long-term gains of GST with the government contemplating some relief to traders too.

More than a dozen cabinet ministers and central BJP leaders will be camping in Gujarat to oversee poll preparations. BJP is facing a stiff challenge due to resentment in the trading community which is protesting GST.

BJP leaders said that with the concessions in GST announced by the government on Friday, the burden on traders would reduce. Further, sources claimed, more relief could be offered by the government in the coming days.

The GST council on Friday decided to cut the tax rate on 177 items from 28 per cent to 18 per cent, leaving only 50 items in the highest tax slab. This, sources said, was aimed at wooing the large section of lower and middle class society who will be directly benefited.

"This is one of the biggest concessions announced after the new tax system took effect on July 1. The tax cut is aimed at making the new indirect tax regime more acceptable to people and reduce the burden on businesses," a BJP leader said.

According to BJP sources, the party is also wary of discontent among Patidars who have been its traditional voters, but are unhappy following their reservation stir.

A large section of Patidars, dominant in Saurashtra, are engaged in trade and their displeasure with the BJP government has only aggravated after GST was introduced.

According to BJP poll managers, the margin of votes between BJP and Congress has remained constantly around 10 per cent during the last five assembly polls and the party would be working hard to increase the margin.

The Congress on the other hand has been banking on Dalit, OBC and rural votes to win over these 10 per cent votes.