Thiruvananthapuram, March 8(IANS)
A pre-election survey conducted by the public opinion platform Vote Vibe has indicated that Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan enjoys the highest level of public support as the preferred candidate for the Chief Minister’s post in Kerala.
According to the survey findings, Satheesan secured the support of 25.2% of respondents, placing him at the top among potential chief ministerial candidates.
Incumbent Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan came in second with 21.5% support, reflecting a close contest between the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF).
The survey also showed that senior CPM leader and former Health Minister K.K. Shailaja received 15.8% support, while BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar garnered 10% backing.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor was supported by 9.2% of respondents as a potential chief ministerial choice.
The survey highlights a gradual rise in the influence of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state.
About 27.7% of respondents believe the BJP’s growth could primarily affect the LDF, while 18.7% felt it could harm the UDF’s prospects in the upcoming Assembly elections.
On the political narrative surrounding an alleged tacit understanding between the CPM and BJP — an allegation frequently raised by the UDF — public opinion appeared divided.
Around 33.6% of respondents agreed with the allegation, while 32.3% disagreed, indicating a nearly even split in perception among voters.
Similarly, the claim that the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) would act as a “backseat driver” if the UDF returns to power also drew mixed reactions.
About 35.1% supported this argument, whereas 33.3% rejected the claim.
Despite Satheesan enjoying a slight advantage in terms of preferred chief ministerial candidate, the survey indicates that the electoral battle between the LDF and UDF remains extremely close.
When asked to evaluate the overall performance of the state government, 35.8% of respondents rated it positively, while 44.3% expressed strong dissatisfaction.
However, welfare and social security schemes implemented by the government continue to receive notable support, with 44.5% expressing satisfaction with these initiatives.
At the same time, 44.2% of respondents felt that allegations of corruption against the LDF government are credible.
The survey also identified the key issues affecting voters in the state. Unemployment was cited as the biggest concern by 23.2% of respondents, followed by rising prices (18.8%) and alcohol and drug abuse (11.4%).
Overall, the survey suggests that while the UDF currently holds an advantage in terms of leadership appeal and social coalition, the LDF continues to maintain strength through welfare policies and its support among women voters, setting the stage for a closely fought Assembly election in Kerala.
