2 in 5 Indians want Modi as next PM; Rahul 2nd choice

About 43 per cent of Indians have backed Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as the most favourite choice for country's next Prime Minister.

According to an opinion poll conducted by the market research agency Ipsos, at least two in five people back Modi to become prime minister after the 2014 general election.

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi emerged as the second choice in the survey.

The support for the Gujarat Chief Minister's candidature was higher among men than women.

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The survey said Modi's candidature was strongly supported by voters in Lucknow with 61% backing him, followed by Bangalore (57%) and Chennai (46%). Sentiment against him was high in Kolkata (78%), Delhi (64%) and Mumbai (62%).

Support for Rahul Gandhi's candidature as PM in the next general election was particularly strong in Bengaluru (49%).

Sentiment against Rahul Gandhi's candidature was particularly high in Kolkata (75%), Lucknow (71%), Mumbai (65%) and Delhi (60%).

The Ipsos "Mood of the Nation" poll also predicted several hurdles for the ruling Congress in returning to power. Only 28% of the respondents supported Congress, while 36% of eligible voters say that the BJP will win power. Voters were unsure of the possibility of a non-Congress, non-BJP formation coming to power.