Lok Sabha Pre-Poll Survey: PM Modi Or Rahul Gandhi, Who Is Preferred PM Face?

India gears up for the monumental event of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, poised to be the largest democratic celebration globally. As anticipation builds, the Election Commission is on the verge of unveiling the crucial dates for the upcoming general elections. Meanwhile, the News18 Mega Opinion Poll sheds light on India's sentiments over the past five years and its aspirations for the forthcoming electoral cycle.

In a comprehensive survey encompassing 518 Lok Sabha seats across 21 major states, conducted by Network18, citizens were asked to identify who they believe would serve as the most effective prime minister in the future. Prime Minister Narendra Modi emerged as the overwhelming favorite, garnering support from over 118,000 respondents across diverse social and religious backgrounds.

The incumbent Prime Minister secured a resounding vote of confidence, with a staggering 59% of respondents placing their trust in him. In stark contrast, Rahul Gandhi, leader of the Congress, trailed far behind with a mere 21% of responses in his favor.

Mamata Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Arvind Kejriwal, convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), shared the next spot, each receiving 9% of the votes.

Notably, Narendra Modi's trust ratings remained robust across various social and religious groups, commanding a trust rating of 66% among Hindus, a significant portion of the surveyed population. However, Rahul Gandhi's trust scores depicted a contrasting picture, lagging behind Modi across all socioeconomic and religious categories.

While Gandhi garnered relatively higher support from Christians at 46%, he faced lower trust levels from Buddhists (20%), Hindus (19%), and Muslims (Shias and Sunnis, at 25% each). Despite his popularity among certain demographics such as Sikhs (39%) and Buddhists (45%), Gandhi's trust ratings remained inconsistent across different religious groups.

The survey, one of the largest of its kind, spanned 21 major states in India from February 12 to March 1, covering 95% of all Lok Sabha constituencies. Conducted by ten distinct fieldwork agencies, the survey employed skilled investigators and stringent quality control measures to ensure accuracy and reliability. With 1,18,616 samples collected in total, it provides valuable insights into voter opinions and preferences, offering a comprehensive analysis of India's political landscape ahead of the upcoming general elections.