Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s son and party general secretary Rahul Gandhi has become the most preferred choice for the next Prime Minister of India, according to the State of the Nation Survey carried out by the CSDS for the Hindu-CNN-IBN.
19 percent of the people surveyed among 18,000 respondents across 20 states preferred Rahul Gandhi as the most suitable Prime Minister. 19 per cent is not a big figure but what is surprising is that Rahul Gandhi has improved his ratings three fold from 6 per cent in 2009.
In quite contrast, the credibility of the Prime Minister came down abnormally like never before. In fact, the PM’s popularity had gradually risen from 2004 to 2009 but for the first time this trend has reversed. Rahul Gandhi has overtaken him.
Number of people who wanted the PM to continue was outnumbered by those who wanted him to be replaced. On the total, Manmohan’s approval ratings as Prime Minister are more adverse than at any other point in the last seven years.
The respondents answered questions like: Is Manmohan Singh still a popular prime minister? Have Rahul Gandhi’s ratings improved as a national leader? Who is the most credible face in the opposition and who is the most well liked chief minister?
As far as BJP is concerned, LK Advani has occupied less than half the popularity of Atal Bihari Vajpayee years ago.
Going way ahead of his competitor Sushma Swaraj, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has improved his position. But, only 5 per cent of the people interviewed preferred him as the PM falling way behind Rahul Gandhi.
