Mood of the Nation survey projects NDA sweep, Congress faces sharp slide

Bengaluru: If the Lok Sabha elections were to be held now, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is projected to win 287 seats, while the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) could secure a commanding 352 seats, according to the latest Mood of the Nation survey.

In contrast, the Congress party is expected to slip to just 80 seats, highlighting a widening gap between the ruling alliance and the opposition. The survey, conducted periodically by India Today, indicates a clear pro-incumbency trend in favour of the BJP.

Compared to the August 2025 edition of the survey, the BJP has gained an estimated 27 additional seats, while Congress has lost around 17 seats. Other parties together are projected to win 176 seats, marking a decline of 10 seats from the previous survey.

In terms of vote share, the NDA is expected to poll 47 per cent of the votes if elections were held today. The INDIA bloc, which includes Congress and its allies, is projected to receive 39 per cent of the vote share—down by two percentage points from the last survey. Regional and other parties together are estimated to secure 14 per cent of the votes.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues to dominate the leadership preference rankings. As many as 55 per cent of respondents said Modi remains the best choice for prime minister, an increase from 52 per cent in August 2025.

His performance as prime minister has also received strong endorsement, with 57 per cent of respondents rating it as “good”. While this figure is marginally lower than the previous survey, overall sentiment remains largely positive. About 24 per cent of respondents rated his performance as “poor”.

The survey also brings some positive news for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. His support as a prime ministerial contender has increased to 27 per cent, up from 25 per cent in the earlier survey, indicating a gradual but steady rise in his acceptance among voters.

For context, in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the NDA had won 293 seats, the INDIA bloc secured 234 seats, and other parties accounted for 16 seats. The latest projections suggest that the NDA could significantly improve its tally if the current political mood persists.

The Mood of the Nation survey, conducted in January 2026, aims to capture public sentiment on leadership, governance, and overall political satisfaction. While not a prediction of final outcomes, the findings offer insights into prevailing voter attitudes.

The results are expected to influence political strategies in the months ahead, with the BJP seeking to consolidate gains and the Congress facing mounting pressure to recalibrate its approach.

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