DELHI

Some respite for Cong

•From an unusually high level of satisfaction with the Congress Government and votes for it in January 2006, the figures declined rapidly in August 2006 and January 2007

•However, the September 2007 survey shows the Congress may have halted its decline

•Quietly but significantly, the BSP is making inroads into the Dalit base of the party

GUJARAT

Modi rules

•The satisfaction with the state Government shows no signs of a decline, with the BJP expected to do a little better in the coming Assembly elections than in a Lok Sabha poll

•The Congress, which made small gains between January 2006 and 2007, hasn’t been able to press its advantage. In the last 8 months, the BJP has made substantial gains and now the Congress trails both in the Assembly and the parliamentary elections by about 8 points

•Major losses for the Congress among the Patidars and upper OBCs. However, the party has gained among the tribals, despite Narendra Modi’s strenuous efforts to wean them away

•No dent in Modi’s popularity, with the CM ranking second only to Sonia Gandhi as a PM choice. A majority of the BJP voters want Modi to lead the party at the national level in a mid-term poll

HARYANA

Split Oppn benefits Cong

•Halfway through its term, the Congress has maintained its position. A majority of the voters are satisfied with the state Government

... contd.