Public perception on demonetisation and its impact may depend on how fast government is able to end the cash crunch and the next fortnight in this regard would be very crucial. Also, the unorganised sector and small vendors have been hit by the midnight currency ban and government must take immediate steps to alleviate their problems.
These are some of the inputs RSS pracharaks have provided to the Sangh and the BJP leaders, who have been seeking inputs from the ground, to assess the situation after three weeks of demonetisation. Some of the top RSS leaders were in New Delhi earlier this week while the inputs started pouring in.
The feedback from poll-bound states like UP, Punjab and Uttrakhand has been passed on to the party, where the effect of demonetisation may directly impact the electoral outcome. Recently, a meeting of BJP leaders and managers from poll-bound states was held in Bulandshehar near Delhi to take stock of the situation.
"The government should attempt to make cash easily available at ATMs in the next fortnight or three weeks," says a leader closely associated with election campaign.
The labourers in the unorganised sector seem to have borne the brunt of sudden changes in the monitory policy brought last month. To cushion the blow on the vulnerable section, it has been suggested that government, in the days ahead, pump money into social and infrastructural schemes to regenerate employment for those rendered jobless in the informal sector.
As part of the remonetisation exercise, the feedback from the ground also suggests expectations of the 'tax paying' middle class, which has thus far, patiently stood in the ATM queues. A rebate in income tax, low interest rate regime, as also some relief for traders, which form the core of the BJP's support base, is also something that has been suggested.
The recommendations and feedback assume significance in the wake of BJP's attempts to alter and rewrite the narrative in poll-bound states. Prime Minister Naredra Modi, in his public meeting over the last three weeks, has attempted to redraw the political contours by projecting demonetisation as a fight between the poor and the rich, the haves and have nots. Congress’ 'garibi hatao' of early 1970s is BJP's 'garibi mitao' of 2016.
But amidst the political rejig, the issues related to traders and the upper caste-middle class - the voting block that has been the bedrock of BJP's core vote-base - need to be addressed.
As a senior leader put it: "It is highly unlikely that our voter will go and vote SP or BSP. But we have to ensure that they don't sulk and
sit at home at the time of crucial elections in UP.”
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