Rahul Gandhi gains ground in PM race, Modi still far ahead: MOTN survey
India Today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi remains the top choice for India's prime ministership, while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi shows steady gains in popularity. The latest India Today–CVoter survey highlights shifting voter preferences ahead of the 2026 elections.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues to be the most preferred choice for the country’s top post, while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has registered steady gains, according to the latest India Today–CVoter Mood of the Nation (MOTN) survey.
The January 2026 edition of the survey shows Modi emerging as the top choice for prime minister with 55 per cent support, marking a rise from 52 per cent in August 2025 and 49 per cent in August 2024. Rahul Gandhi, meanwhile, continues his upward trajectory, with 27 per cent of respondents backing him as the best-suited PM, up from 25 per cent in the previous poll and just 7 per cent in January 2022.
Trend data highlights Modi’s sustained dominance alongside a steady increase in support for Rahul Gandhi over the past four years, reflecting changing voter perceptions even as the leadership gap remains wide.
The survey also points to a widening electoral gap between the BJP and the Congress. If Lok Sabha elections were held today, the BJP is projected to win 287 seats, a gain of 27 compared to August 2025 and a sharp recovery from its 240-seat tally in the 2024 general election.
The Congress, in contrast, is projected to secure 80 seats, down 17 from the last survey and well below its 99-seat performance in 2024. Other parties are expected to win 176 seats, a decline of 10.
The projections indicate that while the BJP has regained political momentum, the Congress has struggled to retain its post-2024 gains.
According to local sources, he has been trying for nearly 12 years to free his land from alleged encroachment by a steel manufacturing company. Following information about the episode, the local Tehsildar, SDM, and police officials rushed to the spot.
As per the Bill, those involved in unlawful conversions on the pretext of marriage will be punished with imprisonment of seven years and shall also be liable for a fine of Rs 1 lakh. Violations in respect of a minor, a person of unsound mind, a woman or a person belonging to the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe will be punished with imprisonment of seven years and a fine of Rs 5 lakh.
A video showing Bhojpuri singer Dhananjay Sharma lifting a female dancer and throwing her into the crowd during a live show has sparked outrage online. Sharma later claimed the dancer misbehaved with him.
Authorities say he coordinated with handlers in India, Pakistan, and abroad, aiming to overthrow democratic governance and establish Sharia law under an ISIS-style caliphate.
A 23-year-old man in Panipat was murdered by three friends after he allegedly applied Holi colour to one accused's lover. The accused got him drunk, attacked him with a screwdriver and placed him alive on a railway track to make the killing look like an accident.
Responding to media queries, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the government "categorically rejects" the report and its characterisation of India. He said the commission has repeatedly presented a "distorted and selective picture" of the country.
The NDA won all five Rajya Sabha seats from Bihar after four Opposition MLAs skipped voting, dealing a setback to the Mahagathbandhan. The alliance also secured two seats in Odisha amid cross-voting by Opposition MLAs during the biennial polls.
A 46,000-tonne LPG shipment aboard Shivalik reached Gujarat's Mundra Port, carrying around 32 lakh domestic cylinders, as authorities rushed supplies to ease shortages triggered by disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
India depends on imports to meet its demand for urea, one of the most widely-used fertilisers in India.
India Today's OSINT team identified at least 22 Indian-flagged vessels operating in the Gulf region, including seven LPG carriers, seven oil tankers, four container ships, two bulk carriers, one tug and one dredger.
India on Monday said it has not held bilateral talks with the United States on deploying naval vessels to secure merchant shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The clarification came after US President Donald Trump urged countries to send warships to keep the strategic waterway open amid tensions with Iran.
After attacking his wife, Nafees attempted suicide by inflicting injuries on himself with the same scissors. Neighbours intervened after hearing the commotion and stopped him from taking his own life.
The victim, identified as Naitik Kumar, allegedly rammed his speeding Bullet motorcycle into a scooter near Janeshwar Mishra Park in Lucknow, triggering a crash that left him dead and two others injured.