# Indian leadership preference survey results

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/indian-leadership-preference-survey-results
> Updated: 2026-08-28T09:24:00.000Z. Sources: 12. Developments: 2.

The ‘Mood of the Nation’ survey conducted by India Today–C Voter highlights current leadership preferences in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi leads the preferred candidates for the premiership with 48.7 percent support, followed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at 27.1 percent.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam founder C. Joseph Vijay emerged as a significant figure, ranking third with 9.2 percent support. Vijay also placed second regarding who should lead the opposition alliance, receiving 12.2 percent of the vote behind Rahul Gandhi’s 29 percent.

Other candidates mentioned in the survey include Abhijit Dipke, who secured 1.3 percent, slightly ahead of Arvind Kejriwal at 1.2 percent. The survey results reflect the national political discourse following Vijay’s entry into politics in 2024.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-28: India political landscape: Modi leads PM preference as Gandhi faces religious backlash

A C-Voter survey shows Narendra Modi leading PM preference, while Rahul Gandhi faces calls for a Congress boycott following his controversial remarks on the Manusmriti.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/india-political-landscape-modi-leads-pm-preference-as-gandhi-faces-religious-backlash

### 2026-08-27: Vijay ranks third in India's next Prime Minister survey

A ‘Mood of the Nation’ survey by India Today–C Voter shows Tamil Nadu CM C. Joseph Vijay ranking third in preferred candidates for India’s next Prime Minister, behind Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi.

9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vijay-ranks-third-in-indias-next-prime-minister-poll

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Cite as: Indian leadership preference survey results. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/indian-leadership-preference-survey-results