Many Gujarati expats stay back to vote

Non-Resident Gujaratis (NRGs) belonging to central Gujarat or the Charotar belt, said they are responsible voters and that is why many have decided to stay on not only till the day of voting but to the day when a new government is formed at the Centre.

The NRGs  belonging to this part of the state are mostly Patels, who generally visit Gujarat during the wedding season beginning October and stay on till the kite flying festival popularly known as Uttarayan. “But this is more than any festival and this is an important election for those in the country and those residing out,’’ said Suresh Patel, originally a resident of Bhadran in Anand, and now settled in Chicago in the US.

Patel said there were scores of families who are in different parts of the world but while some have managed to come, there are others who are calling up their relatives and friends on a regular basis and encouraging them to exercise their rights.

Chandrakant Patel, another resident of Vaso, and now residing in New Jersey has also decided to stay on till the day of the verdict. Patel, who runs a motel, said that he and his family have retuned to India to exercise their voting rights and that they would leave only after the election results are out. “Any party which promises the upliftment of the economy in India  is going to get the votes,’’ said Patel.