Rahul Gandhi drubbed by Narendra Modi for PM's post, says survey

Despite the turmoil within BJP and being linked by Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde with 'terror', an ABP-Nielsen exit poll says that the NDA-led coalition will come to power were the general elections held in India here and now.

The claim was made based on a survey across 28 cities, but was held before two big events markedly changed the political space - Rahul Gandhi's elevation to VP's post in the Congress and the unceremonious exit of Nitin Gadkari and the ascendancy of former president Rajnath Singh to the top post in the party.

The survey findings indicate that 39% the respondents would prefer the NDA while 22% opted for the UPA.

SURVEY: If general elections were to be held today, whom will you vote for?

When the more specific question of voting for a particular party was asked, then 36% respondents plumped for BJP while just 18% opted for COngress.

When the stakes were raised and they were asked about their preferred choice at the very top of the Indian govt, then an overwhelming majority of 48% said they would vote for Narendra Modi.

Rahul Gandhi fielded only 18% of the respondents vote while Manmohan Singh came in with just 7%.

Clearly, the UPA has failed to convince people about their sincerity for reforms across the socio-political-economic paradigm.

Other highlights:

* In a straight contest between L k Advani and Narendra Modi, the veteran politician and formner Dy Prime Minister lags way behind by 51:28.

* Narendra Modi, despite coming in for flak from NDA allies like Nitish Kumar's JD(U), will be acceptable as PM candidate by allies, say 50% of respondents while 32% say they will not accept him for the top post.

* 27% of overall responednts are set to vote for BJP while 18% intend voting Congress

... contd.

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