Nearly half of India’s population is unaware of INDIA bloc: Opinion poll

Opposition INDIA bloc was formed in July 2023 to dislodge BJP at the Centre

Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, 44 percent of Indians expressed unfamiliarity with the opposition alliance – Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), formed last July to challenge the Bharatiya Janata Party’s dominance at the Centre.

According to News18’s Mega Opinion Poll survey, which gathered responses from a population of 1,18,616 individuals, including 64,453 males and 54,163 females, respondents were asked if they were aware of the opposition bloc.

The survey covered 21 major states of India that account for 95 percent all the Lok Sabha constituencies in the country. All the Lok Sabha constituencies in these 21 states, a total of 518 Lok Sabha constituencies, were covered in the survey.

The field work was carried out in the period during 12 February till 01 March 2024.

Fifty-six percent of respondents demonstrated awareness of the INDIA bloc, which comprises 27 political parties. Meanwhile, 22 percent expressed unawareness, and another 22 percent either declined to answer or were not aware of it.

The 56 percent awareness level remained consistent across all age groups and genders. The survey covered 50,647 individuals in urban areas and 67,969 in rural areas, with the percentage of those unaware of the INDIA bloc consistent across all demographics.

The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) includes major opposition parties from regions spanning Jammu and Kashmir to Uttar Pradesh, and from Maharashtra to Tamil Nadu. They have been actively campaigning against the Bharatiya Janata Party led by Narendra Modi.

However, the alliance suffered a setback when Bihar’s chief minister parted ways with its regional ally RJD and joined the BJP, dealing a blow to the INDIA bloc.

Nitish Kumar, seen as one of the architects of the opposition alliance, abandoned the Mahagathbandhan or grand alliance for the second time in seven years.

Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress distanced itself from the Congress after the latter announced candidates for all 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal.

This move came after Congress rejected the offer to contest only two seats in the state. Despite these tensions, both parties remain part of the INDIA bloc.