The Modi Brand After Operation Sindoor & Trump’s Tariff War – Mood of the Nation

Deshmukh highlighted that while Modi’s ratings show slight dips, his support is still roughly double that of main rival Rahul Gandhi, whose ratings hover near 25%. Even when NDA approval ratings fell by about 10 points since January, those votes didn’t shift to the opposition, showing disappointment rather than defection. Interestingly, 63% of respondents want the INDIA bloc to continue, with Rahul Gandhi emerging as its central figure.

However, economic concerns dominate voter worries. Sixty percent say managing household budgets is tough, and many believe NDA policies benefit big business. Unemployment was rated as the government’s biggest failure, while the Ram Mandir was seen as its top achievement. Despite this, most respondents back Modi’s firm stand against U.S. pressure and want India to continue buying Russian oil, reflecting strong nationalist sentiment.

Barkha Dutt observed that while people are sending “warning signals” on the economy, they still trust Modi personally, which acts as a shield for the NDA. Deshmukh added that the opposition must avoid personal attacks on Modi, while the government must acknowledge public concerns instead of denying them.