An India Today special report on the Mood of the Nation survey examines public approval ratings for prime ministerial candidates and political leaders. Prime Minister Narendra Modi leads the choice for the next Prime Minister at 49 percent, while Rahul Gandhi trails at 27 percent. Actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay enters as a new entrant with 9 percent, ahead of Arvind Kejriwal at 1.2 percent. The panel notes that while PM Modi maintains a significant lead over opponents, his approval rating has dipped slightly from earlier polls. However, voters moving away from the BJP are not automatically gravitating toward Rahul Gandhi, who receives 29 percent support to lead the INDIA bloc and 41 percent to lead the Congress party. Panelists highlight that emerging alternatives like Vijay are capturing the interest of younger voters and Gen Z seeking change, posing a challenge for Rahul Gandhi to consolidate the anti-BJP vote share.
