Narendra Modi's popularity drops below 50% as Rahul Gandhi gains ground: MOTN poll reveals shifting public sentiment

The latest Mood of the Nation (MOTN) poll, released by India Today, provides a revealing snapshot of the political landscape in India post the June 4 general election results. While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) continues to spearhead the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, its stronghold in the Lok Sabha has been significantly weakened, leading to its reduction to a minority.

Conducted by C-Voter using Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI), the survey engaged a massive sample size of 136,463 respondents. Out of these, 40,591 respondents were interviewed between July 15 and August 10, 2024, while 95,872 were surveyed over the past 24 weeks.

Findings:

In a critical finding, Narendra Modi's popularity as the preferred Prime Minister has seen a decline, dipping below the 50% mark for the first time, now standing at 49%. In contrast, Rahul Gandhi's approval ratings have climbed, reaching 22%, making him the closest contender to the incumbent Modi. Notably, those who previously rated Modi as 'outstanding' have decreased by 7.3% since the last survey.

Another revealing aspect of the survey pertains to the public's perception of the BJP's use of enforcement agencies. When asked if they believe the BJP misuses agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the Income Tax Department, 46% agreed, while only 38% thought such practices were typical across all governments. This marks an increase from 43% last year to 46% this year, indicating growing skepticism.

According to one of the political scientists and activist, the survey is described as "a valuable glimpse into the post-election mood of the nation." The expert highlighted economic challenges as the primary concerns, stating, "The economy continues to be the biggest pain point. Inflation may be down, but people can’t manage household expenses. Unemployment is the supreme concern. People don’t believe govt claims on employment."

The rising unemployment, coupled with economic dissatisfaction, stands as one of the most significant criticisms against the current regime. Earlier, in February, MOTN polls indicated that 52% of respondents believed economic policies favored big businesses. This sentiment has now intensified, with 58% of respondents holding that view.