In Lucknow, traders are unsure but continue to root for the BJP

The traders were unanimous: 'GST is a good product implemented badly.' Though reluctant, most of them said they may vote for the BJP again

Talk to any trader in Lucknow and he will tell you ‘mandi’ (slowdown) is upon us. “Pehle jeb mein paanch-dus hazar rupay pade rahte the, washing machine mein kurta dhul jata tha tab yaad aata tha ki paise jeb mein hai. Ab jeb khali hi rahti hai (there was a time when we used to forget to empty our pocket and Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 would be found when the kurta was given for washing. Now mostly our pockets stay empty),” says Sanjay Gupta, head of the UP unit of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT). 

CAIT is