Where deeds don’t sparkle like diamonds

The industry employs over 2.5 lakh workers, most of whom are single and need to save money for families back home. And hence, the politicians find them vulnerable.

Finding workers effacing ink marks outside poll booths and saying without so much as batting an eyelid that they have just voted for the 10th time is not an uncommon sight in these areas. The diamond hub, Varachha, resembles one huge college campus with students playing truant. And, they don’t have any dilemma about stepping in for those who have shifted long back or died.

If diamond workers decide the destiny of candidates inside the election booths, their merchants step in much before — soon after the elections are announced. Not that thetrade that is at least three decades old in the city has sent too many people’s representatives to even the Gujarat State Assembly, leave aside the matter of Lok Sabha, nevertheless they do play a role in deciding the fate of candidates.

The trade is controlled by Saurashtrian Patels. They are a major force by their sheer number, which a political party would ignore at its own risk. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has a virtual monopoly over the trade in Surat with only a couple of merchants owing allegiance to the Congress. Had it not been for the Hajuria-Khajuria divide, the BJP would have had a free run in the area.

However, the recent riots in Varachha, following a clash between workers and merchants over wages has made the BJP’s task a bit difficult.

While funds from the industry was never a problem for the BJP, the promises it gave in return were never fulfilled. Like the assurance on extending the State Government’s shelter to the trade or accommodation for diamond workers.

A leading merchantfeels that there should be at least 10 MLAs to represent the trade, but admits "That’s not possible."

However, the Congress has been successful in making inroads into the BJP’s votebanks of late, courtesy the mishandling of the riots by the BJP.