BHOPAL: Bye-polls are due in four Lok Sabha constituencies across the country, including Shahdol in the state. The bye-polls in Shahdol have been necessitated following the death of former MP Dalpat Singh Paraste but the decision of demonetisation of old notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 is becoming an election issue here.
Getting old notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 exchanged has become a big problem for the farmers, as well as with middle class families across the country. Its impact may be seen on the outcome of the bye-polls. The demonetisation has also affected business community. Shahdol constituency has a tribal area, where money lenders are found in abundance, having tribals. The impact of demonetisation may be seen on the election results here.
The impact of demonetisation of old notes can also be seen on money spent on elections. The leaders of BJP and Congress are having tough time arranging money for the works done 72 hours prior to polling. The old notes are accepted at some places while at some, people refuse to accept them. There is problem related to money given to party workers to spend on election affairs.
Another problem being faced is in influencing village heads, who help in getting votes in tribal areas. Those party workers, who take them old notes from party leaders, spend their day in getting them exchanged.
The decision of Modi to expose black money has evoked favourable reaction in public at many places and the BJP intends to get votes from public by taking mileage from this decision. The tribal voters are being told that the black money which would be come out after demonetisation will be used for public welfare works.
On the other hand, Congress is terming the decision of demonetisation as inconvenience to public. Congress party claims that the decision would trouble only common man. The tribal voters are told that demonetization would bring problem of unemployment for them.
The outcome of Shahdol bye-polls is now linked not only to the prestige of chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan but also of Prime Minister Modi as election result would help in assessing the impact of Modi’s decision.
