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Elections 2014: 31% of AAP supporters want Narendra Modi as next PM

Posted Date : 02-Dec-2013 , 10:29:49 am | Posted By CASANSAAR print Print

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief ministerial candidate Arvind Kejirwal and the BJP's nominee for prime minister Narendra Modi appear to have few similarities. If the former, a political rookie, is seen as a harbinger of cleaner politics and a socialist leaning heavily on populism, Modi, a veteran with a hat trick of election wins in Gujarat, wears the image of an authoritarian figure with strong development goals. Apart from their anticorruption agenda, the two have had very little in common. Until now. 

AAP's fourth internal survey shows that most of Kejriwal's supporters — 31% — are also rooting for Modi as the next PM of this country. This survey, which surveyed 3,247 people across 35 constituencies in the Capital between November 18 and 21, also showed AAP as the party with the largest vote share of 33% followed by Congress with 30% and BJP with 25%. 

According to party leader Yogendra Yadav, this is the first time that AAP tried to gauge the preference of its supporters for the general election in 2014. About 10% of Kejriwal followers would prefer Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi or Sheila Dikshit for the PM's job. 

Although Yadav admits he was surprised by the extent of supporters shared by Kejriwal and Modi, he offered a simple explanation. "They are both seen as agents of change," he said. For experts, the finding is a reflection of how Delhi and central elections will not be driven by ideology but personalities. "Right now, people think the problem with the government is (indecision). Both Kejriwal and Modi come across as leaders who will rid the government of its lethargy," said Pradip Kumar Dutta, a political science professor with Delhi University 

The difference between the local and national preference of Kejirwal's supporters could also stem from AAP not having a national presence yet. Kejriwal has often dodged questions on the party's ambitions for the 2014 elections saying that Delhi is AAP's current priority. 

"AAP is not seen as a viable possibility for the next general elections, which is why most of Kejriwal's supporters have chosen to support Modi at the centre because they are looking for change," said Sanjay Kumar, fellow at New Delhi-based Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), whose recent pre-poll survey also showed a similar bias for Modi among AAP loyalists. 

But this balance may shift, Pradip Kumar Dutta said. "If the Aam Aadmi Party does well in state elections then there is a good chance that they would consider having national presence. In such a scenario, the preferences could change." (Economic Times)

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