CSDS Survey Shows NDA’s Dominance in Bihar Over the Grand Alliance

The CSDS survey for The Indian Express shows NDA’s clear upper hand over Grand Alliance in Bihar.

CSDS Survey Highlights

• If the Bihar polls were to be held in the last week of September, the NDA would surpass the Grand Alliance by 4 percent
• The NDA managed to woo the upper class, lower OBCs and sections of Dalits
• The Grand Alliance is supported by Muslim, Kurmi-Koeri and Yadav voters
• The NDA is popular among urban voters whereas Grand Alliance remains the rural favourite

The Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) survey for The Indian Express reveals that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would have garnered 4 percent more votes than the Grand Alliance if the polls were held in the last week of September.

According to the survey, the NDA reached an estimate of 42 percent votes whereas the grand alliance managed 38 percent.

The Third Front did not make any impact even though its member parties have been in the news.

The vote banks of the two fronts also show a clear segregation. NDA ruled the urban estimate by 20 percent whereas the Grand Alliance enjoyed dedicated support from the rural regions of the state, lagging only by 2 percent.

The NDA took the lead among the upper class, lower OBCs and Dalit sections whereas the Grand Alliance reached the 38 mark among Muslim votes, Yadavs and Kurmi-Koeris.

Nitish Kumar, however, remains the popular choice for Chief Minister.

Sushil Modi’s comment regarding advantage of the same party in power at the Centre and state stood true for the NDA.

The observations, however, are trends and not necessarily predictions of the polls as the local politics can deflate or inflate the margin during the five phase polls between October 12 and November 5.