It is common knowledge that due to Modi’s Popularity, BJP remains in the pole position. When asked people how satisfied they are with the work of the current prime minister on a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being the most satisfied and 5 being the least satisfied. This can be seen in the survey as 30% of the respondents rated 1 while not 2 people rated 5.
During the 2014 and 2019 general elections, the BJP fought against a fragmented opposition. The two defeats by the BJP have taught the opposition that they need to be united to take down the NDA-led government. Therefore comes the INDIA bloc, India National Development Inclusive Alliance, an alliance of 28 national parties led by the Indian National Congress.
But when asked people if they were aware of the INDIA bloc, only 11 out of 20 replied with a Yes. This suggests that even though the INDIA bloc has given the opposition a common platform, they still require a different kind of governance that sets them apart from the BJP.
When people were asked whom they preferred as PM candidate from the INDIA bloc, the most preferred came out to be Arvind Kejriwal followed by Rahul Gandhi. The INDIA alliance currently needs to select a leader who can provide a counterargument to Modi.
Finally, the agreement on seat sharing has not yet been negotiated by the opposition. They must willingly give up what they consider to be “theirs” to make room for partners if they genuinely wish to fight as one cohesive front.
Moreover, The congress’s recent initiative of Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra instead of INDIA Yatra upset many of the INDIA coalition members.
Due to all of the above reasons, 75% of respondents believe that it is likely unlikely that the INDIA bloc will remain united till the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
While Indians see their country as Vishwa Guru, Indians don’t think the world thinks about them with this perception. It’s no wonder that voters believe that Modi is the one who has ‘put India on the map’. Moreover, government initiatives like Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav tend to make voters believe that they are living in a glorious nation. In addition to that, the government made the G20 presidency an achievement for India. Due to these reasons, 80% of respondents think Modi has elevated India’s image globally.
As the survey analysis reveals, there is no denying that the current BJP continues to hold the upper hand as the race for 2024 heats up. It’s home to not only India but the world’s most popular leader. Several factors such as opposition coordination and foreign policy matters are at play.
The opposition must regroup in the wake of poor state election results. There is optimism as after a long period the Congress is led by someone whose last name is not Gadhi. It is to see whether the opposition will be able to come up with a strong political ideology or not. The opposition has a steep hill to climb, the time isn’t working in its favour.
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(Article written on 09 Jan 2024)