The Great Debate: Who Was the Best Prime Minister of India Before Modi?
A recent survey by India Today has sparked a lively debate over India's best Prime Ministers. The survey, titled 'Mood of the Nation,' polled 12,100 participants to determine who among the predecessors of current Prime Minister Narendra Modi held the most favorable view among the Indian populace.
Who Emerges as the Best Prime Minister?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has been in office since 2014, has garnered significant support, emerging as the best Prime Minister of all time according to the survey. Modi received 26% of the responses, making him the clear favorite. Just six percentage points behind is India's former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who was the leader of the Indian National Congress (INC) for many years.
The Historical Context
The survey also looked at the performance of other prominent Prime Ministers including Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who passed away recently and Jawaharlal Nehru, India's independence leader and first Prime Minister. Vajpayee received 12% of the votes, while Nehru received 10%.
Regional and Religious Divides
It is interesting to note that there are regional and religious divides in the preferences for the best Prime Minister. Among Hindu voters, Narendra Modi is the preferred choice with 28%, while among Muslim voters, Indira Gandhi garnered 26%. While Modi has a strong support base in the North and East of the country, he trails Indira Gandhi slightly in the South by just 3% of the votes.
Alternative Leaders
In a related survey, the public was also asked who they considered the best alternative prime minister if elections were held today. Rahul Gandhi, son of the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, received 46% of the responses. West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC leader Mamata Banerjee followed with 8%.
Projections for Future Elections
A separate survey conducted by India Today-Karvy Insights shows a potential shift in the political landscape if the 2019 Lok Sabha elections were held today. According to the survey, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which had won the 2014 elections with a clear majority, may struggle to achieve the same result. The study indicates that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would win only 281 of the 543 seats in the Lok Sabha, compared to the Indian National Congress (INC) and its allies, who would secure 122 seats.
Conclusion
The survey results highlight the complex and changing nature of Indian political preferences. While Narendra Modi is overwhelmingly popular, the country's diverse regions and communities have differing views on the country's best Prime Minister. The future of Indian politics and the electoral process remains uncertain, as highlighted by these and other surveys.