Surat: Several textile workers give voting a miss as factories remain open

Elections to 120 seats in 30 wards of the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) was held on Sunday.

Surat Municipal Corporation, Gujarat Assembly Speaker, Rajendra Trivedi, Surat elections, Surat voter's turnout, Surat news, gujarat latest news, indian express

It was business as usual for the textile industry in Surat, depriving many workers the opportunity to cast their votes for the local body elections. (Express file photo)

It was business as usual for the textile industry in Surat, depriving many workers the opportunity to cast their votes for the local body elections. Elections to 120 seats in 30 wards of the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) was held on Sunday.

South Gujarat Textile Processing Association president Jitubhai Vakhariya said, “We did not have any instruction from the district administration on closing the business for election. Among the centres that functioned, some factory owners allowed their labourers to go for voting. We had appealed to the dyeing and printing mills to keep their factories shut but most of them were open.” There are around 340 dyeing and printing mills, and over 35,000 powerloom factories in Surat city.

Labour union leader Kamran Usmani said, “There are many labourers who were not able to cast their votes as the factories were open. The administration should have instructed the industries association to keep their factories closed on election day.”

Story continues below this ad

Sachin Weavers’ Association president Mahendra Ramolia said, “There are around 35,000 powerloom factories in Surat city and all were open. We had sent message to the industries in our areas to allow the workers to go for voting. Some of the powerloom factories gave a two-hour interval for the workers to vote.”

The diamond industry, however, was shut for business, Sunday being the week off. Surat Diamond Association president Nanubhai Vekariya said, “The diamond manufacturing units have holiday on Sunday and our workers could exercise their franchise.”

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Top Stories

Sports Ahmedabad to host 2030 Commonwealth Games: What it means for 2036 Olympics bid

Entertainment Pankaj Dheer, Mahabharat’s Karna, passes away at 68; son Nikitin Dheer says ‘very hard to move on’

Infosys office boy Dadasaheb Bhagat builds India's Canva

Sports Ahmedabad to host 2030 Commonwealth Games: What this means for 2036 Olympics bid

Opinion Taliban leader in India: It's complicity, not diplomacy

Sources in the LJP (RV) said the names of the remaining 15 candidates would also be announced very soon.

Bihar polls: Chirag Paswan’s LJP (Ram Vilas) announces first list of 14 candidates

India2 hr ago

Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) announced its first list of 14 candidates for the Bihar assembly polls, with its state unit chief Raju Tiwary and leader Hulas Pandey among the nominees. As per the seat-sharing arrangement, LJP (RV) will contest 29 seats, while BJP and JD(U) will contest 101 seats each. The remaining 15 candidates will be announced soon.

View all shorts

Live Blog

Loading Taboola...