New Delhi: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi emerges as the force to lead the BJP in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. 53 % respondents of ABP News-Nielsen Opinion Poll have indicated that he should shift from Gujarat and move to national politics.
           
A similar percentage of respondents are of the opinion that Modi would be the prominent face of the BJP in the general elections.

Majority 35% of respondents feel that Anandiben Patel (BJP) should become the Chief Minister of Gujarat in case Modi becomes the Prime Minister of India. She is followed by Shankersinh Vaghela (INC) in terms of popularity, especially in rural Gujarat.

Majority of respondents had no opinion about the rift between RSS and Modi. Overall only 19% respondents feel that there is a tussle between RSS and Modi.

‘Developer’ Modi deserves one more chance

42 % feel that Modi is best suitable to be the next Chief Minister of Gujarat. Lauding him for his achievements, more than half of the total respondents agree that BJP government should get another chance to govern the state.

The Gujarat CM definitely would see this survey as a morale booster as 67% of respondents have rated performance his performance as Very Good/ Good. These scores are higher in the urban areas (77%) than in rural Gujarat (62%).

Modi is pictured to be a successful achiever in providing adequate water supply and medical care to his statesmen.

Though 45% feel that development in Gujarat is because of the entrepreneurial DNA of Gujaratis. A sizeable portion of 35% does feel that it is because of the efforts put up by Modi.

Mixed response on eliminating corruption

However, price rise, unemployment and corruption have emerged as three biggest failures of the state led by him. Inflation and corruption are the only two worry areas, which are rated as deteriorated.

43% respondents in rural Gujarat think that Modi is not serious about curbing corruption, whereas 41 % in urban Gujarat feel that the CM is serious about eliminating corruption in the state.

Modi’s Muslim card
Known for his alleged role in the 2002 riots, Modi is backed by 31 per cent of the sampled voters who feel the situation of communal harmony has improved in the state.

There is an almost equal split of people who feel that giving tickets to Muslim candidates is an attempt by Modi to attain a secular image-39%, and those who feel that it is a genuine attempt to reach out to the Muslims is 36%.

More than three fourths respondents said that creation of Gujarat Parivartan Party will not impact their voting trend. Shankersinh Vaghela (INC) is seen as a strong contender (19%), especially in rural areas (24%)

Hazare, Kejriwal flop
Anna Hazare hasn’t made much an impact in Gujarat as only 19% respondents agree that they would vote against party for which Anna campaigns against.

Only 15% respondents agree that they would support Arvind Kejriwal and would vote against the party that he campaigns against.

The findings followed a survey of 16,384 voters across 91 constituencies in the state. The complete field work was carried out between 16th and 29th October 2012.