The BJP holds a commanding 12 percentage points lead over the Opposition’s INDIA alliance ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, according to a pre-poll survey by Lokniti-Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS).
In the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, it says that four out of ten voters supporting the BJP. The Congress is also expected to make slight gains, but they are unlikely to pose a significant threat. Over half of the respondents expressed satisfaction with the BJP’s 10-year-old government performance, indicating positive inclinations towards giving the Modi government another chance.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Modi guarantee’ is gaining traction among voters, giving him an advantage over Rahul Gandhi’s guarantees. Only 27 perent choses him. Despite maintaining a lead, there’s a notable decline in satisfaction with the government’s performance compared to 2019. Urban areas show lower support for another term.
PM Modi’s persona remains a decisive factor, with close to half of the respondents preferring him as the prime minister over Rahul Gandhi. The construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya stands out as Modi’s most admired work, resonating strongly among voters, particularly NDA supporters.
However, rising prices and increasing unemployment are significant concerns among voters, raising questions about the sustained popularity of Modi and the BJP. Despite economic distress, the BJP maintains its lead, indicating voter sentiments may not align solely with economic performance, presenting a fascinating aspect of the upcoming election.
The BJP’s stronghold in the north and west contrasts with limited success in the south, though improvements in states like Karnataka suggest potential gains. Direct contests between BJP and Congress favour the former, but multi-cornered contests show a three-way split in support.
A significant majority, comprising 62 per cent of respondents, perceive job acquisition as increasingly challenging, with only 12 per cent feeling otherwise. Across various demographics, including Muslims (67 per cent), Hindus from Other Backward Classes (63 per cent), Scheduled Tribes (59 per cent), and upper castes (57 per cent), the sentiment of job scarcity prevails.