79% of Indians view PM Narendra Modi favourably — Report

DIMAPUR — 79 per cent of Indians have a favourable opinion of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to a report by Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan American think tank.

The results of the study were released on Wednesday by the research organisation. The study, which spanned from March 25 to May 11, 2023, involved surveying 2,611 adults in India.

The surveys were conducted in person and were meticulously adjusted to accurately represent the Indian adult population across various factors such as gender, age, education, region, urban-rural distribution, and other relevant categories, the organisation claimed.

As per the findings presented in the report, about eight in ten Indians hold a favourable opinion of Narendra Modi, with 55% expressing a particularly strong level of favourability. Conversely, the research team also highlighted that one-fifth of the Indian population leaned towards an unfavourable perspective of Modi.

In contrast, Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the opposition Indian National Congress (INC), is viewed positively by around 60% of Indians (equivalent to six out of ten individuals). In comparison, the report discloses that 34% maintain a negative perception of Gandhi.

Two other INC leaders, Mallikarjun Kharge and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, are also seen favourably by the majority. Kharge, the current INC president and leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha, is viewed positively by 46%, while Chowdhury, who leads the party in the Lok Sabha, garners a positive opinion from 42%. However, about 30% or more hold an unfavourable opinion of each of these politicians.

In terms of age groups, younger adults (18 to 29) in India are more likely to hold an unfavourable opinion of Kharge compared to those aged 50 and older (34% vs. 25% respectively). On the other hand, younger Indians have a more favourable view of Chowdhury compared to their older counterparts (47% vs. 37% respectively).