India Behind The Lens (News Centre)

The latest IBTL Opinion Poll predicts a power-packed performance for the NDA led by Narendra Modi. It appears that, not only will the BJP breach its best ever performance (both in terms of seats and vote share) but also ensure that various other regional players are rendered irrelevant in the 2014 elections.

Other Opinion Polls have given the hint that regionally parties, especially the 3 ladies Mamta, Maya and Jayalalitha would play the role of King makers. However our Poll suggest that BJP and NDA’s tally in total would be robust enough to not take the support of any of these parties or even the BJD.

Seat Summary (Pan India)

NDA – 251

Allies Breakup

BJP 225, Shiv Sena 9, Shiromani Akali Dal 6, MDMK 3, PMK 2, RPI (A) 2, HJC 1, NPF 1, NPP 1, Swabhiman Paksha 1

UPA - 151

Allies Breakup

INC 75, BSP 20, AAP 15, RJD 14, SP 11, NCP 5, AIUDF 2, IUML 2, JDU 2, J&K NC 2, KC(M) 1, LJP 1, MIM 1

Other Key players

AIADMK 25, TMC 25, Left Front 22, TDP 15, YSRCP 11, BJD 10, TRS 9 DMK 4, DMDK 2, JDS 2, JVM 1, PDP 1, INLD 1, VCK 1, Independents 8, Others 4

Key Points

• NDA needs another 21 seats to get majority which can be accomplished by the help of TDP and TRS or a group of Independents and small 1 seat parties like INLD, SDF etc
   
• AAP, JDU, SP, BSP have been included in UPA because these parties either support Congress or take its support in 1 state or the other
   
• AAP is predicted to win 15 seats, the survey period covers the peak of AAP popularity, therefore situation might have changed thereafter
   
• BJP with 225 seats (projected voteshare of 28.8%) and INC with 75 seats (projected voteshare of 19.2%) achieve their best and worst ever performance respectively

For a detailed statewise analysis please read below. All the states’ analysis and key findings have been presented in descending order of State Seats starting with Uttar Pradesh

 

State – Uttar Pradesh

Prominent Players – BJP, BSP, SP, AAP, INC, RLD

Key Findings from UP

• A social churn is being witnessed among the backward class, including Yadavs who are found to shift towards BJP
   
• Even the Yadavs in the hardcore loyal bases of Samajwadi Party namely Etawah, Kanpur etc are willing to vote BJP due to the Modi factor
   
• AAP is present in limited pockets but completely destroying Congress and BSP in those areas
   
• The sporadic Modi Wave seem to have intensified in the last 1 month.

Vote share prediction

BJP almost doubles its vote share. All other parties are getting smashed as per this. This would lead to erosion of Seats for all the parties except BJP and AAP

Seats Prediction

So, everything that could go wrong is going wrong for the Congress. The party is expected to win just 3 seats, its ally RLD would bag merely 1 seat. However the good news is that possible ally and 1st timer AAP is winning 4 seats

State – Maharashtra

Prominent Players – BJP, Shivsena, RPI (A), AAP, INC, NCP, MNS

Key Findings from Maharashtra

• Heavy anti incumbency prevalent against the Cong-NCP alliance govt.
   
• NaMo wave is lifting up BJP in many areas, but Shiv Sena is affected by vote split from MNS
   
• Although MNS is splitting votes of NDA alliance, it seems to do limited damage in Lok Sabha elections. There are many voters who said they would vote MNS in Assembly but NDA in Lok Sabha Polls due to Modi factor
   
• Very much like MNS, the new party AAP also has effect in limited pockets of Mumbai and Pune.

Seats Prediction

State – West Bengal

Prominent Players – BJP, TMC, INC, Left Front

Key Findings from West Bengal

• Cadre strength is with TMC and it will consolidate its position compared to last time, despite dissolution of UPA in Bengal
   
• BJP almost doubles its voteshare but not likely to win any seat

Seats Prediction

State – Andhra Pradesh

Prominent Players – BJP, TDP, INC, TRS, YSRCP, MIM

Key Findings from Andhra Pradesh

• Compared to our last survey, YSRCP is recovering a bit in Seemandhra, but TDP is still holding edge in this close contest
   
• In Telangana, it is a Big surprise that there is a Big undercurrent for BJP, possibly due to Narendra Modi factor, particularly in the half dozen seats of Greater Hyderabad region.
   
• In fact, in Secundarabad, number of respondents who preferred to vote BJP is higher than combined respondents of TDP and TRS. As per our survey BJP on its own is likely to win 2 seats (Secundarabad & Mahboobnagar) and stay in Top 2 in 4 other seats out total 17 seats in Telangana
   
• In Seemandhra too, BJP is likely to get decent support, but not enough to win seats, because many people said they prefer Modi as PM but voting BJP would be wastage as BJP won’t win, so they would vote TDP as it is likely to support BJP post elections
   
• Above findings make it clear that TDP should be the natural ally for BJP in Seemandhra and can win extra few seats if BJP supports TDP
   
• Also BJP should fight most of the seats in Telangana as our survey shows BJP being in Top 2 in atleast 6 seats and ahead of TDP in 3 more.
   
• Both TDP and BJP alliances seem synergic as it seems to help both the parties, although TDP would benefit more from the alliance

Seats Prediction – 25 Seats of Seema Andhra

Seats Prediction – 17 Seats of Telangana

State – Bihar

Prominent Players – BJP, JDU, RJD, LJP, INC, NCP

Key Findings from Bihar

• IBTL was the 1st to predict this, way back in May 2013, that if there is a Strong Modi wave in any Indian state (except South), it is in Bihar and Rajasthan
   
• It is now almost certain that RJD-INC-LJP-NCP will form a ‘Secular alliance’ to counter BJP, hence this analysis takes that into account, but 1st some facts
   
• Right from 1996, the NDA voteshare in Bihar has remained stable around 39%. This has got to do with a large section of Biharis who have gone Anti Congress since the JP movement. When NDA won 32 seats in 2009, they got 39% vote share. When they won just 11 seats in 2004, they still got around 38%. So why this skewness in seats? It was because in 2004, RJD-LJP-INC-NCP cobbled up a formidable alliance
   
• Similarly the Congress voteshare has remained stable at around 8.5% in the last many LS and Assembly elections. In 2009m Congress managed to get 10% because the country was witnessing a Pro Manmohan wave
   
• The BJP-JDU split will ensure that the bulk of 39% Anti Congress votes stay with the party more likely to counter Congress in National elections i.e. BJP. Some erosion due to Nitish Kumar’s Backward Caste engineering would be compensated by additional backward votes brought in by Modi and forward catse/yadavs who hate Nitish Kumar
   
• In the perception battle of corruption, Congress scores higher than RJD. So Congress has nothing to lsoe by allying with RJD but RJD has a lot to lose by allying with Congress

Vote share prediction

Seats Prediction

State – Tamil Nadu

Prominent Players – AIADMK, DMK, DMDK, PMK, MDMK, BJP, INC

Key Findings from Tamil Nadu

• It is assumed that there are 3 fronts AIADMK + Left, DMK + DMDK + VCK, BJP + MDMK + PMK, Congress
   
• A strong undercurrent in favour of Narendra Modi. The state is disgusted with Congress.
   
• People perceive DMK as an opportunistic party.
   
• The battle is not 3 way as many media reports suggest. As per our survey AIADMK alliance is leagues ahead of the other 3 fronts

Seats Prediction

DMK-DMDK-VCK+ alliance is struggling, despite cobbling a formidable front. AIADMK front is way ahead with 25 seats. Left allies would fail to win any seat but would help AIADMK with small vote shares. DMK and BJP alliance are tied at 2nd place with 7 seats each. While Congress alliance would be decimated and would draw yet another blank. This comes as a major shock because many Union Ministers from Congress are from Tamil Nadu.

State – Madhya Pradesh

Prominent Players – BJP, INC

Key Findings from Madhya Pradesh

• After the recent Assembly elections, MP has gone the Gujarat way and is now a fully saffron state
   
• Our survey predicts that there are many voters who voted for Congress on Assembly but would vote BJP in Lok Sabha due to Modi factor
   
• This would lead to BJP getting 53% vote share while Congress falls to 32% votes
   
• The huge gap would ensure that BJP sweeps the state
   
• Twin waves, 1 of Narendra Modi and another of Pro Incumbency of Shivraj Chouhan Govt. would ensure that BJP is powered to its best ever performance in the state

Seats Prediction

Our survey indicates that other then Guna and Chhindwara, BJP will rock and sink the boat of Congress in this state where factionalism has added fuel to the party’s destruction fire.

State – Karnataka

Prominent Players – BJP, INC, JDS, AAP

Key Findings from Karnataka

• Karnataka has thrown up possibly the biggest upset in our Survey results
   
• Congress just won the elections and it was expected that, powered by the populist schemes, the Green party would
   
• Win almost every seat here
   
• In fact in our October 2013 survey, we gave Congress 23 out of 28 seats
   
• However people have gone delusional sooner than expected and the party is on the verge of being diminished to another single figure show
   
• AAP factor is prevalent in patches and is undoing the Congress

Seats Prediction

BJP is losing 4 seats compared to 2009, while Congress gains 4. However this is still a good news for BJP, which was sunk in recent Assembly elections due to factionalism and intense corruption charges. The news for Congress gets even worse as Union Railways Minister Malikarjun Kharge is predicted to lose his seat in Gulbarga to the AAP.

State – Gujarat

Prominent Players – BJP, INC, AAP

Key Findings from Gujarat

The less said of the Home state of BJP PM Candidate, the better. The state is already under NaMo wave for over a decade now

Last time we predicted a whopping 23 seats here. However there is a stagnation which has occurred. It seems that Narendra Modi, other than doing rallies across the country should do 1 grand rally in his Home state and ask every Gujarati to vote for the pride if he has to breach this stagnation, both in terms of vote share and seat share

BJP is predicted to hold on to more than half the votes at 53% vote share, INC would drop to 34% while AAP would get 3% votes

Seats Prediction

Congress is still latching on to 4 seats and BJP needs a further swing to grab these 4 seats from the Congress.

State – Rajasthan

Prominent Players – BJP, INC

Key Findings from Rajasthan

In last 1 month or so of the BJP govt., people have already started saying that BJP govt. is better than former Congress govt.

The state is engulfed in a massive Modi frenzy. Many voters who voted for smaller parties like that of KL Meena would be backing BJP in Lok Sabha

This would possibly be the 1st big state where Congress is drawing a blank where there is a direct fight between BJP and Congress

Like MP and Gujarat, Rajasthan too would send over a score of MPs to the Lok Sabha this time

BJP consolidates its voteshare to more than the psychological 55%, expected to get 56% votes while Congress struggles at 29% voteshare

Seats Prediction

State – Orissa

Prominent Players – BJD, INC, BJP

Key Findings from Orissa

• Many believe that Navin Patnaik wins elections after elections due to pro Incumbency but the actual reason is, he wins due to lack of better opposition and a very strong BJP cadre base in Orissa
   
• Despite this, BJP seems to be losing the plot in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
   
• As per our Polls, Congress is not gaining much votes, but BJP is eating into BJD votes, thereby helping Congress in a seat or 2 in the state
   
• It is possible that BJD may end up winning less than the half of available seats in the Coastal state

Seats Prediction

State – Kerala

Prominent Players – BJP, INC, AAP, Left Front, IUML, KC(M)

Key Findings from Kerala

• There is a massive wave for Narendra Modi in the backwaters state buoyed by Communal tensions in the state 
• Entry of AAP is also a game changer as both BJP and AAP are eating into considerable amount of Left as well as neutral votes
• As a result, the Left which was expected to do well given the alternate mandate rule of the state is not doing well and Congress is holding its ground
   
• BJP can win 4-6 seats if it puts of good candidates and effective campaigning by Narendra Modi
   
• The contest would be 3 way in over a dozen seats (due to BJP) and 4 way in atleast 5 seats (due to AAP)
   
• Both the Left front and UDF might lose votes, but not so much damage in seats shares. Debutant AAP is expected to notch 9% votes while BJP 20% vote share

Seats Prediction

State – Jharkhand

Prominent Players – BJP, INC, JVM, JMM, AJSU

Key Findings from Jharkhand

• BJP was in a state of bother in the ‘richest’ state of India, due to JVM factor but it seems that the Modi storm which has engulfed neighbouring Bihar, is now blowing in Jharkhand.
   
• The current JMM-INC government is also facing huge anti incumbency and except for a few pockets, people are disgusted with the UPA govt.
   
• Despite not allying with JVM, BJP is expected to sweep. This would come as a bad news for former CM Babulal Marandi
   
• The All Jharkhand Students’ Union is expected to garner more votes than JDU (6%) but not enough to win any seat

Seats Prediction

State – Assam

Prominent Players – BJP, INC, AIUDF, AGP, ABF

Key Findings from Assam

• Despite communal riots, Congress is gaining
   
• It appears that AIUDF and Congress combination would decimate the opposition

Seats Prediction

State – Punjab

Prominent Players – BJD, SAD, INC, AAP

Key Findings from Punjab

• INC is not gaining, but because of AAP cutting anti Congress votes, the Red party would help Congress
   
• Like Delhi, AAP is a force here with close to 18% voteshare

Seats Prediction

State – Chhattisgarh

Prominent Players – BJP, INC

Seats Prediction

State – Haryana

Prominent Players – INLD, INC, BJP, HJC, AAP

Key Findings from Haryana

• Marred with Twin anti incumbencies (of state and of centre), it looks highly unlikely that Congress would touch anywhere the half its tally of 2009
   
• Modi wave is sinking both INC and INLD, while AAP is rocking BSP and INC. Hence the Congress seems to get a fatal blow from all quarters
   
• INLD would still hold much of its voteshare but not enough to win too many seats
   
• It appears that a combination of BJP-INLD-HJC might have swept all 10 seats and even emerge stronger in the Assembly Polls

Seats Prediction

State – Delhi

Prominent Players – BJP, INC, AAP

Key Findings from Delhi

• AAP is losing its support base of the pragmatic middle class voters, and the section is  drifting to BJP
   
• However, the red party is drawing a lot of backward caste votes and also knocking off Congress as far as Muslim votes are concerned
   
• This new churning and counter churning would lead to, the fight being a bipolar, rather than a 3-way
   
• AAP is predicted to get 44% votes while BJP 40%. Whereas the Congress which won 7 seats might struggle to cross 2 figures

Seats Prediction

Note – The survey was done in 3rd and 4th week of January, so parts of the sample would reflect the mood of the people before the AAP Dharna and before the 1st Bills of electricity and water were invoked in 2014

State – Jammu & Kashmir

Prominent Players – NC, INC, BJP, PDP, PP

Key Findings from Jammu & Kashmir

• Ruling JNKC-INC alliance facing huge anti incumbency
   
• There is a massive Modi wave in the Jammu region and BJP is almost certain to win the seat
   
• PDP may gain a seat while Congress would lose both

Seats Prediction

State – Uttarakhand

Prominent Players – BJD, INC

Key Findings from Uttarakhand

• Congress has lost credibility due to the  management of Uttarakhand calamity by the state government
   
• Despite replacing the CM, Congress would be unable to change its fate as per our survey

Seats Prediction

State – Himachal Pradesh

Prominent Players – BJP, INC

Seats Prediction

State – Goa

Prominent Players – BJP, INC

Seats Prediction

States – Tripura, Manipur, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Nagaland, Mizoram

Prominent Players – Left, BJP, INC, MNF, NPF, SDF, NPP 

Key Findings from the 7 Sister States

• Left Front is still strong in Tripura, leaving no room for any other National Party
   
• Congress would retain both the seats of Manipur and 1 seat of Meghalaya
   
• NDA’s ally partner and debutant NPP would also win 1 seat in Meghalaya
   
• Due to the recent threats from China and security concerns, it seems that BJP would win 1 seat in Arunachal Pradesh
   
• SDF and NPF would retain their respective seats of Sikkim and Nagaland
   
• Congress would also hold on to its lone seat in Mizoram

Seats Prediction

Tripura

Manipur

Meghalaya

Arunachal Pradesh

Sikkim

Nagaland

Mizoram

Union Territories – All

Prominent Players – INC, BJP

Key Findings

• The National parties would more or less retain their seats of 2009 with other players not being so significant except in Chandigarh
   
• In Chandigarh, AAP would cut significant votes of Congress, helping BJP to win
   
• BJP retains Andaman and Nicobar but the fight is quite close
   
• Congress would lose Pondicherry seat to DMK 

Pondicherry

Lakshadweep

Daman & Diu

Dadra & Nagar Haweli

Chandigarh

Andaman & Nicobar Islands

 

— 

 

IBTL survey findings in Dec 2013 ...