A press release from CNN-IBN, however, qualified this finding with the observation that the ruling UPA appeared to be losing ground as compared to January 2007 when the alliance was projected to win 300 seats. The NDA’s then tally was pegged at 115. The channel said the drop of 33 seats indicated the beginning of anti-incumbency for the UPA. The poll also indicated a decline for the Left Front in its bastions of West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura — from 55 seats currently to a projected 43.

The opinion poll showed the BJP’s allies holding firm in their States (Orissa, Bihar and Punjab). In contrast, the BJP seemed on a decline in the States where it was in power. In Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, the BJP’s tally of 56 seats looked set to drop to a mere 21 “if elections are held today.” In Narendra Modi-ruled Gujarat, public opinion was strongly in favour of the incumbent with 56 per cent of the respondents preferring Mr. Modi to the Congress.

The poll suggested little awareness about the India-United States nuclear deal. As many as 64 per cent of those polled said they had never heard of it. A majority believed that inflation and the condition of farmers were the real issues before the people. The poll indicated unhappiness among the people over the UPA’s handling of terrorism, corruption and inflation with 56 per cent feeling inflation had worsened under the current regime. The poll said UPA supporters preferred Sonia over Manmohan Singh for Prime Minister.

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