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WASHINGTON: Seven out of 10 Indians are dissatisfied with the way things are going in the country, and this appears to be propelling them towards a BJP-lead coalition to head the next government, according to the latest Pew Research poll focusing on India during its election run-up.
"By more than three-to-one (63% to 19%) Indians prefer the BJP, not Congress, to lead the next government. Such sentiment is in no small part due to the belief by more than two-to-one that the BJP would do a better job dealing with India's myriad problems," the survey report accompany the poll, which was conducted between December 7, 2013, and January 12, 2014, and has an error margin of +/- 3.5%, said.
However, despite a dramatic slowdown in economic growth in the last few years, the poll showed that more than half (57%) still describe the country's economic performance as at least "somewhat good," offering some solace to the UPA coalition. And nearly two-out-of-three (64%) expect the nation's children to be better off as adults than people are today.
But nearly two-out-of-three lament the political and parliamentary deadlock that hobbles national problem solving, the survey said. And by overwhelming margins, Indians say corruption by public and business officials - those whom citizens might look to for solutions - is a significant problem. "Little wonder then that only about four-in-ten Indians retain a lot of confidence in either the national government or the Lok Sabha," the survey observed.
Although foreign policy and ties with major or regional powers had not been a major issue during the run-up to the elections, the survey claimed that Indians are more inclined to be pro-American than pro-China. By 56% to 15%, Indians express a favorable, rather than unfavorable, view of the United States, with 28% offering no opinion, according to the survey. Meanwhile, Indians are roughly divided in their attitude toward China (35% favorable vs. 41% unfavorable). And, by a margin of 21 percentage points, they are more positively disposed toward the United States then they are toward China.
By nearly four-to-one (47% to 12%) Indians say the United States is today the world's leading economic power rather than China. However, a third of Indians say China has already replaced or will eventually replace the United States as the world's leading superpower, possibly a reflection of Beijing's growing strategic as well as economic influence.
Bilaterally, Indians are more than twice as likely to see America as a partner than as an enemy. They are more likely than not to see China as an enemy, whose rising power and influence more than half of Indians view as a major threat to the country. And Indians are much more likely to favor strong ties with Washington than to support more robust relations with Beijing.
The survey report said such sentiment in favor of the United States exists despite the fact that the Pew Research Center survey was in the field in India during and in the immediate aftermath of the controversial December 12, 2013, arrest and strip-search of India's female deputy consul general Devyani Khobragade in New York on charges of visa fraud.
The poll also revealed that just 19% of Indians express a positive view of Pakistan. And when asked which poses the greatest threat to India - Pakistan, China, the Lashkar-e-Taiba extremist group or Naxalite insurgents - a 47%-plurality chooses Pakistan. Still, most Indians hope for a stronger relationship with Pakistan. A majority (64%) would like to see improved relations with Pakistan, and more than half support more trade and more talks between the two nations.
Unhappy Indians leaning towards BJP-led coalition: Pew poll - The Times of India
"By more than three-to-one (63% to 19%) Indians prefer the BJP, not Congress, to lead the next government. Such sentiment is in no small part due to the belief by more than two-to-one that the BJP would do a better job dealing with India's myriad problems," the survey report accompany the poll, which was conducted between December 7, 2013, and January 12, 2014, and has an error margin of +/- 3.5%, said.
However, despite a dramatic slowdown in economic growth in the last few years, the poll showed that more than half (57%) still describe the country's economic performance as at least "somewhat good," offering some solace to the UPA coalition. And nearly two-out-of-three (64%) expect the nation's children to be better off as adults than people are today.
But nearly two-out-of-three lament the political and parliamentary deadlock that hobbles national problem solving, the survey said. And by overwhelming margins, Indians say corruption by public and business officials - those whom citizens might look to for solutions - is a significant problem. "Little wonder then that only about four-in-ten Indians retain a lot of confidence in either the national government or the Lok Sabha," the survey observed.
Although foreign policy and ties with major or regional powers had not been a major issue during the run-up to the elections, the survey claimed that Indians are more inclined to be pro-American than pro-China. By 56% to 15%, Indians express a favorable, rather than unfavorable, view of the United States, with 28% offering no opinion, according to the survey. Meanwhile, Indians are roughly divided in their attitude toward China (35% favorable vs. 41% unfavorable). And, by a margin of 21 percentage points, they are more positively disposed toward the United States then they are toward China.
By nearly four-to-one (47% to 12%) Indians say the United States is today the world's leading economic power rather than China. However, a third of Indians say China has already replaced or will eventually replace the United States as the world's leading superpower, possibly a reflection of Beijing's growing strategic as well as economic influence.
Bilaterally, Indians are more than twice as likely to see America as a partner than as an enemy. They are more likely than not to see China as an enemy, whose rising power and influence more than half of Indians view as a major threat to the country. And Indians are much more likely to favor strong ties with Washington than to support more robust relations with Beijing.
The survey report said such sentiment in favor of the United States exists despite the fact that the Pew Research Center survey was in the field in India during and in the immediate aftermath of the controversial December 12, 2013, arrest and strip-search of India's female deputy consul general Devyani Khobragade in New York on charges of visa fraud.
The poll also revealed that just 19% of Indians express a positive view of Pakistan. And when asked which poses the greatest threat to India - Pakistan, China, the Lashkar-e-Taiba extremist group or Naxalite insurgents - a 47%-plurality chooses Pakistan. Still, most Indians hope for a stronger relationship with Pakistan. A majority (64%) would like to see improved relations with Pakistan, and more than half support more trade and more talks between the two nations.
Unhappy Indians leaning towards BJP-led coalition: Pew poll - The Times of India
