According to a pre-poll survey, as India prepares for its upcoming Lok Sabha elections, scheduled from April 19 to June 1, concerns about price rise and job scarcity are paramount among voters. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is vigorously campaigning for a third consecutive term, while the Opposition INDIA bloc is striving to unseat the ruling Narendra Modi-led government.
Unemployment and inflation are the primary issues dominating the discourse in India’s General Election 2024. The CSDS-Lokniti pre-poll survey indicates that over half of the respondents are troubled by rising prices and the scarcity of employment opportunities.
A significant 62% of respondents feel that securing employment has become increasingly challenging, with only 12% believing that job availability has improved. Among specific demographic groups, 67% of Muslims, 63% of Hindus from Other Backward Classes (OBCs), and 59% of Scheduled Tribes (ST) share concerns about job accessibility.
Similarly, a majority of voters, accounting for 71%, express significant distress over inflation impacting their financial well-being. This sentiment is echoed by 76% of individuals from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, including the poor and a comparable percentage of Muslims.
Regarding the quality of life, nearly half of the respondents, approximately 48%, believe it has improved over the past five years, while 35% feel it has worsened. However, only 22% report being able to save money from their household income, with 36% managing to meet their needs but unable to save.
Concerning corruption, 55% of respondents believe it has surged in the last five years. While 25% attribute this increase to the central government, 16% blame state administrations. The Lokniti-CSDS Pre-Poll survey 2024 compiled responses from 10,019 individuals across 19 states.