Mumbai: India’s air strikes against a terrorist camp in Pakistan, a new jobs quota and cash handouts to farmers have lifted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity back to peak levels, according to a pre-election survey.
The poll found 43 percent — or more than four of every 10 respondents — wanted Modi to return as prime minister. That’s seven percentage points higher than during the 2014 elections, when a little over one-thirds had wanted him to lead the country. Conducted by the Lokniti research program at the New Delhi-based Centre for the Study of Developing Societies from March 24 to March 31, the poll surveyed 10,010 respondents spread across 19 of the country’s 29 states.
Voting in India is set to take place in seven phases from April 11 to May 19 and the result will be announced May 23. Still, a rise in popularity doesn’t necessarily translate into seats for his party.
The survey suggested “three decisions of the Modi government taken between Jan. 7 and Feb. 26 might just have the ability to change the course of an election that just could very well have been a close race.”
In the first quarter of 2019, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government decided to assign 10 percent quotas to economically weaker groups in India, pledged to transfer money to bank accounts of farmers and conducted air strikes inside Pakistan following a terrorist attack on security forces in India’s Pulwama.
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Voter Preferences
Most respondents didn’t openly say these would be the most important voting issues for them and instead chose unemployment and development as the key factors, the survey showed.
“However, looking at other data from the survey, we have reason to believe that the three back-to-back happenings seem to have had impacted voter preferences and opinions, quite possibly at a sub-conscious level,” the Lokniti poll found.
In contrast to the effect that the air strikes, reservation and cash transfers seem to having on the BJP’s and Modi’s popularity, the impact of the Rafale deal controversy and the main opposition Congress Party’s assurance of a minimum income guarantee to the poor were found to be not as strong, the survey said.- Bloomberg
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After reading your News I was really shocked that being a renowed on line News paper you are publishing a Poll servey reports of paid agencies just to divert the attention of a common man..The ground reality is far far away from your poll servey that Modi is going to loose these election untill and otherwise something fishy are not be done with the EVM’s and the Election Commission should not play the role of a villan.
Indian Voter is an very intellegent voter and is not disclosing his cards till he casts his vote.Modi has done nothing for the country except polisaring the Votes and divided the Country but did not get succeded in dividing the lovers of the country on the name of relegion or cast.
His hands are weted with the innocent blood of the Muslims who were masscared brutly without having the fault of their own.The culprits who were booked in that Henies crime were acqueted and the NIA judge after delivering that judgement joined the BJP.
Those who take survey and publish it should be accountable for its accuracy. Idally the poll surveys should be baned by election commision after code of conduct comes into effect. Most of the surveys are motivated and misleading
It’s is shame that government ultimately few Armed forces to die and then retaliate, then use it for winning elections. Does it mean it has nothing to show excepting photos of Martyrs. The problem is neither media or opposition has not raised the question on how suicide attack was allowed to happen a question which BJP always raised while in opposition and they gave even conspiracy colour to it during bomb blasts. Imagine from today it has announced civilian restrictions on Jammu Srinagar highway not when it was in power
Who is lokniti ?I never heard of this.and when conducted the survey?I don’t believe in this survey.
Yes a new player .