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Guwahati voters crave development

By MANASH PRATIM DUTTA

GUWAHATI, April 23 - Although a series of protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 rocked the State in the last few months, most of the voters in Guwahati who cast their votes in the third and final phase of the Lok Sabha polls today, voiced the need for jobs and daily bread and butter.

�I vote with the hope that the newly-elected MP will fetch some benefit for my only daughter who is differently-abled. During the last several days I met many officials to get a PwD (person with disability) certificate for her, but to no avail,� said Yakub Qureshi, a resident of Basistha Chariali who cast his vote at Beltola College, a model polling station under Kamrup Metro election district.

�I need a concrete home and a pension. For quite a long time I have been trying to avail facilities under government schemes, but have not got any positive result so far. I hope the next government will fulfil my needs,� said 80-year-old Manada Das, a resident of Bonda refugee colony located on the outskirts of the city who cast her vote at Bonda Lower Primary School this morning.

�The Central government rehabilitated us in this refugee camp in the 70s. I have faced lots of hurdles in my life. I hope the newly-elected MP will make life easier for me,� she added.

�This time I cast a conscience vote. Development is always a pre-poll promise of the candidates, but after becoming MPs/MLAs they don�t even come to meet us. Hope my vote will contribute towards making a change in the scenario. It is nice to see new generation people coming out to vote,� said Dhiren Medhi, a resident of Hedayatpur who cast his vote at TC Govt Girls� HS School.

�We vote with the hope that our elected representatives will help us overcome our economic hardships by providing some financial assistance. I am a petty trader and government welfare schemes are always a great relief for my family,� said Amal Deka of Amgaon who exercised his franchise at Bonda Anchalik High School.

Akendra Singha, a voter of Bagarital area who cast his vote at Botahghuli Lower Primary School, said, �I wish the development process will accelerate in the coming days. While casting my vote I always bear the issue of development in my mind. Moreover, the condition of the roads in my area is not good and some people were even evicted by the district administration even after staying in this area for many years. I hope the new government will solve these issues.�

Upen Deka, a State government employee and resident of Beltola area who cast his vote at Beltola College, said, �Hope my vote will help a deserving candidate who will work to improve the whole government machinery in the coming days.�

Deka also added that the movement against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB) will play a key role in this election.

Tapanjit Bora, who also voted at Beltola College, said, �I always used to vote with the hope of development. Government should make all basic facilities available to every citizen. We in Guwahati face many burning problems. Hope the new government will work to develop the city.�

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