(Express Photo/Avinash Nair)In the temple town of Somnath-Veraval, as in the rest of Somnath constituency, caste rather than religion could hold the key to the election. The town includes Somnath temple, believed to be the first of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, and visited by lakhs of devotees every year. “Winning Somnath is important to us,” said Mirza, who alleged that the temple town has hardly seen any new infrastructure development. We expect the Kolis to turn around close to the polling day.”Autorickshaw driver Latif Memon hopes the temple town will remain peaceful. “Hindu or Muslim, everybody in this town wants to see the Somnath temple prosper,” said Memon, who hails from nearby Kodinar but has made the town his home for the last 30 years.

Source: Indian Express November 30, 2017 21:37 UTC