Modi more popular than Nepali politicians, says opinion poll

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is more popular in Nepal than the Himalayan nation's politicians, says a new opinion poll.

Updated on: Feb 2, 2015, 15:10:09 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi is more popular in Nepal than the Himalayan nation's politicians, says a new opinion poll.

Modi scored 68 on a scale of 0 to 100, seven points higher than Nepal's President, Ram Baran Yadav, who scored 61, highest among the country's politicians, according to the poll by Kathmandu-based research and consultancy firm Interdisciplinary Analysts (IDA) released on Sunday.

The IDA has been conducting similar polls since 2004, but this is the first time it has measured the popularity of a public figure from outside the country.

"Nepali politicians have failed to deliver (the new constitution). In contrast, Modi's huge win brought about hope in India and may have had a spillover effect in Nepal," said IDA executive director Dr. Sudhindra Sharma.

The poll on Nepal’s contemporary political situation was carried out after Modi's hugely successful visit to Kathmandu last August when he wooed people by speaking in Nepali for several minutes in the country's parliament.

He visited again last November to attend the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit.

The poll asked 3,000 respondents from 44 of the country's 75 districts to rate prominent politicians in Nepal. In a separate category, they were also asked to rate the Indian Prime Minister.

Nepal's Prime Minister, Sushil Koirala, came second among Nepali politicians with a score of 58 followed by his Nepali Congress colleague, Sher Bahadur Deuba, with 54.

The rating of Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, once considered Nepal's most powerful politician, has dipped significantly.

The Maoist leader, whose party was drubbed in the 2013 polls, scored 40, his lowest score since 2007 when he got 60. He managed to stay just ahead of former king Gyanendra Shah, who was in last place with a score of 38.

Though Nepal became a secular state in 2008, it seems many have still not reconciled to the change and 71% of respondents wanted the country to become a Hindu state.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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