New Delhi: Congress leader Siddaramaiah has overtaken incumbent Basavaraj Bommai of the BJP in popular choice for the next chief minister of Karnataka, says a survey piloted by NDTV and Lokniti-Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS).
Basavaraj Bommai has been ranked second, signaling at hurdles before the BJP’s attempt to return to power in the state.
A part of the survey's details revealed yesterday suggested it had considered a wide range of issues the state has been facing.
Most people surveyed ranked unemployment and poverty as the top issues they are facing, which runs counter to the BJP’s narrative for the state.
The survey obviously gives away general public mood in Karnataka where election are due on May 10, with the results expected to be out three days afterwards.
Former chief minister Siddaramaiah is slightly more popular among older voters, while younger voters prefer Bommai, thanks to being younger than the congress leader.
Despite in political wilderness after being lost to the BJP, Janata Dal Secular (JDS) leader HD Kumaraswamy is chosen to be the third most popular candidate for the office.
Congress's DK Shivakumar, who is at the forefront of the party in the state, ranks below Kumaraswamy in popular choice for chief minister.
The four-time chief minister BS Yediyurappa of the BJP ranks low at number 5, however the leader is not contesting polls this time.
After Yediyurappa faced corruption charges, the BJP replaced him with Mr Bommai in 2021.
A 56 per cent polled said they will give more importance to the party than a leader, while 38 per cent said they would focus on the candidate.
More people polled ( 59%) found the BJP more corrupt than the Congress, the survey reveals.