Urban Indians see Narendra Modi as best leader: Opinion poll

New Delhi, Nov 15: An opinion poll conducted by CNN-IBN and Hindustan Times found that 24 per cent of urban Indians perceive Gujarat Chief Minister

as the leader whom they feel can best manage the country's

.

Sixteen per cent of the respondents expressed faith in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and an equal number think that Congress chief Sonia Gandhi will be able to steer India through the current slump.

The latter's son Rahul was preferred by 13 per cent of voters. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav were considered by 5 and 2 per cent of the respondents as their favourite leader.

While 55 per cent of urban Indians rued the government's inability to tide over the economic crisis, 36 per cent described the UPA's efforts in this regard as "satisfactory".

Nearly 60 per cent of the respondents said that their jobs were not secure whereas 35 per cent averred that they have a comfortable income at present. Though the overwhelming majority blamed politicians for the rampant corruption, 19 per cent believe that citizens must do something to stem the rot.

Arvind Kejriwal may have levelled several allegations against leaders of both Congress and BJP as well as leading industrialists but only 12 per cent of respondents seem to like his scoot-and-shoot approach.

Sixty-two per cent stressed that Anna Hazare's Gandhian mode of protest is much better. Yoga guru Baba Ramdev's campaign to bring back the black money stashed abroad got the thumbs-up from five per cent.

According to 63 per cent of the respondents, the spiralling food inflation has made it difficult for them to make ends meet. Almost 25 per cent said that the recent hike in fuel prices had hurt their pockets.

Nearly half the people covered by the survey are of the opinion that that the Centre has not sold its reforms agenda properly. However, 33 per cent gave the prime minister the benefit of doubt.

OneIndia News