NDA may gain 12 more LS seats in UP post-air strikes: India TV-CNX survey

New Delhi, March 4 (IANS) The BJP-led NDA will win 41 out of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, while the grand alliance of the SP, BSP and Ajit Singh' RLD is projected to win only 35 seats, according to an India TV-CNX survey conducted after the air strikes by the Indian Air Force (IAF) in Pakistan.

CNX had earlier conducted a survey in February prior to Pulwama attack in which the Samajwadi Party-Bahujan Samaj Party (SP-BJP) "mahagathbandhan" was projected to win 49 Lok Sabha seats, while the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was seen as trailing with 29 seats.

"This translates into a gain of 12 seats for NDA post-air strikes, while the SP-BJP alliance's tally may see a loss of 14 seats," said the survey.

According to the survey, the Congress and its allies may register a gain of two Lok Sabha seats and win four in the state.

"The voting share percentage post-air strikes shows, the BJP is projected to get 40.95 per cent votes, SP may get 17 per cent and BSP 18.03 per cent votes, while the Congress may get 11.37 per cent votes," the survey said.

Party-wise seat projections post-air strikes show that the BJP may win 40 Lok Sabha seats, BSP 16, SP 18, Congress four, and Ajit Singh's RLD and the Apna Dal one each.

A total of 42.02 per cent respondents pointed out "economic issues" as the most important factor in the elections, 24.35 per cent said anti-terror attacks and it was corruption for 8.47 per cent.

On the question how the recent air strikes by India against Pakistan would affect his or her voting preference, 32.05 per cent respondents said "a lot", 40.65 per cent said "not very much" and remaining 27.30 per cent said "can't say".

Asked whether they supported the opposition's demand for evidence of IAF strikes at Jaish-e-Mohammed camps inside Pakistan, 56.91 per cent said "no", 22 per cent "yes", and 21.09 per cent said "can't say".

A whopping 62.82 per cent respondents felt that war was the only solution to India-Pakistan problem, and 48.99 per cent said that "Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government is more sincere in dealing with terrorism".

In all, 75.41 per cent gave credit to the Modi government for Wing Commander Abhinandan's return from Pakistan.