Poll surveys: BJP set to win clear majority, but Congress to make gains
India Today’s 'Mood of the Nation Poll' gives NDA 335 of the 543 seats in Lok Sabha, but this will be short of the sweep BJP leaders are claiming
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is poised to win nearly 350 seats in the Lok Sabha to give Prime Minister Narendra Modi a third straight term but the opposition too will make gains, a survey of voters says.
India Today’s “Mood of the Nation Poll” gave the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) 335 of the 543 seats. But this will be short of the 400-plus seats BJP leaders have said the party will sweep.
Opposition gains
The survey of 35,801 respondents showed that the opposition INDIA alliance, which includes the Congress, could win 166 seats in the country with its large chunks coming from the south.
The BJP-led NDA won more than 350 seats in the 2019 elections.
The BJP itself is expected to 304 out of 543 seats, giving it a majority in the Lok Sabha on its own. It won 303 seats five years ago.
Congress showing
The Congress could end up as the second largest party with 71 seats, up by 19 from last time. Others including regional parties and independents will get the remaining 168 seats.
The survey showed that most people were rooting for the BJP because of its welfare initiatives and a resonant nationalistic narrative.
Ram temple
Almost 42 per cent of the voters were impressed by Modi’s rule in getting a grand Ram temple built at the site of the Babri mosque which was razed in Ayodhya in 1992.
Nearly 20 per cent voters also credited Modi with raising India's global stature is another notable achievement while 12 per cent approved his decision to strip Jammu and Kashmir of its special constitutional status.
Economic concerns
Maintaining a corruption-free image was recognized by 14 per cent of the population.
But voters also expressed concerns over continuing unemployment, calling it the Modi government’s biggest failure, inflation and poor Covid management.
