The recent assembly elections in Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir have once again brought into question the reliability of exit poll forecasts. Some are raising concerns about the accuracy of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and whether the Election Commission of India (ECI) and mainstream media have biases towards the ruling party. According to the latest YouGov-Mint-CPR Millennial Survey, urban Indians are divided on these issues based on their political affiliations.
Conducted in July 2024, the survey revealed that supporters of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had a more positive outlook on electoral politics compared to Congress supporters. This survey, the 12th round of its kind, included 10,314 respondents from over 200 towns and cities, shedding light on the beliefs and anxieties of India’s young urban population.
The majority of respondents in the survey were post-millennials (born after 1996) and millennials (born between 1981 and 1996). The survey showed that 46% favored the BJP as their party of choice, while only 15% preferred the Congress.
When asked about the conduct of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections by the ECI, 58% of respondents believed it was free and fair, while 42% disagreed. Satisfaction levels varied among supporters of different parties, with 67% of BJP supporters approving of the ECI’s conduct compared to 46% of Congress supporters.
On the issue of EVMs, 61% of respondents supported their continued use, dismissing allegations of tampering. Political affiliation influenced opinions, with 71% of BJP supporters favoring EVMs compared to 46% of Congress supporters.
Regarding media coverage during the election campaign, 54% of respondents believed that the media favored the BJP, while 46% thought coverage was fair to all parties. Interestingly, 47% of BJP supporters agreed that the media favored their party, while 64% of Congress supporters felt the coverage was biased.
Opinions were divided on the reliability of exit polls, with 46% questioning their integrity. Party loyalty played a significant role in these opinions, with BJP supporters trusting exit polls more than Congress supporters.
Overall, the survey indicated that party affiliations influenced perceptions on electoral issues such as the ECI, EVMs, media coverage, and exit polls. There was also division on the topic of simultaneous elections, with different viewpoints based on age and party affiliation.
In conclusion, the survey highlighted how political affiliations shape perceptions on electoral matters in India’s urban population.
