Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking direct feedback from people through a survey on his mobile application to find out issues that will be of importance while voting in the next assembly elections in their states.
The PM has listed issues such as the government’s handling of the COVID-19 situation, Article 370 and construction of the Ram Temple.
The survey, coming ahead of the upcoming crucial elections in Uttar Pradesh and four other states, also asks people if the “Opposition unity will have an impact" in their constituency. The move assumes significance as the Opposition in Delhi is trying to project a united front against the BJP.
The survey titled ‘Share Your Opinion’ also asks which is a bigger factor for people while voting — “PM Narendra Modi’s leadership in the country, or state level issues or local issues”, and some questions indicate that the survey may even play a part in choosing candidates.
As many as 13 issues have been listed out asking people which of them (respondents can choose more than one) will be the “most important consideration” while voting in the next assembly election — including price rise, corruption, law and order situation, construction of the Ram Temple, Triple Talaq law, Article 370, education, government’s handling of COVID-19 situation, employment, cleanliness, electricity, and roads and infrastructure.
The Ram Temple and law and order are major issues in the Uttar Pradesh elections.
COVID also remains on the BJPs mind, as one specific question asks people how much they are satisfied with the vaccination coverage in their state.
In another set of questions that have to be answered in either agreement or disagreement, people have been asked if the same government at the Centre and state helps in development, if the work culture of their state government had improved in the last four years and if they felt more optimistic about the future of their state than earlier. The overall performance of their state government has been sought on a scale.
People have also been asked which is the most important consideration while voting for a candidate: “his/her caste, his/her religion or his/her development record.”
Survey May Help Decide Candidates
The kind of questions that have been posed indicates that the exercise may even have a bearing on the selection of candidates by the BJP in the upcoming elections in the five states of UP, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur. One question also asks people to name “the three most popular BJP leaders in your state” indicating that the party is trying to identify who can be the best CM face. The survey tries to find out whether people are aware about the initiatives of their MLA, if their MLA is accessible and if the person is satisfied with the MLA's work. “Would you like to see your MLA re-elected?”, is another key question.
People have also been asked to rate how much they are satisfied with their state government’s performance regarding the situation of roads, power, drinking water, affordable healthcare, education, ration-related issues, law and order, cleanliness, creation of employment opportunities, rural electrification, economy and farmer prosperity.
People have also been asked to cite which scheme or initiative of their state government has benefitted them the most. People are also being asked if they have ever donated to the BJP.
The survey ends with a question to be answered in yes or no if the person would be asking his friends and family to vote for the BJP.
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