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Findings from the latest India Today-CVoter Mood of the Nation (MOTN) survey reveal key economic, political, and social trends shaping India.
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00:00Hello and welcome. You are with the India Today Mood of the Nation, the biannual tracker of the mood of
00:07the country that is watched very closely.
00:10All the details in the latest India Today magazine, a poll brought to you in collaboration with Cvota that does
00:16all the polling for the mood of the nation.
00:20A sample of more than one lakh and this has been a very significant tracker in August of 2026 because
00:26it comes against the backdrop of wide-ranging student protests being described as the Gen Z protests across the country.
00:34What impact is that having on the politics of the country? That's what we are going to discuss over the
00:41next hour.
00:41We have all our guests here, Gaurav Savan, Maria Shakir, Preeti Chaudhwi, Raj Chengappa, Siddharth Zarabi, all with us here
00:49in the studio.
00:51Also, Yashwan Deshmukh, who remember from Cvota, he's the one who's done the poll. If it goes wrong, he's the
00:56one who should be held responsible.
00:59And also with us is Guru Prakash Paswan of the Bharatya Janda Party. We also hope to be joined by
01:05the Kokhrun Janda Party and the Congress Party.
01:10But let's turn straight, therefore, to the Kokhrun Janda Party because in the last three months, if there's one word
01:16that's been buzzing around Indian politics,
01:19it is the rise of the CJP, the Kokhrun Janda Party. Should it remain a pressure group is what was
01:27one of the questions asked.
01:2939% said yes, it should remain a pressure group. 26% said it should contest elections.
01:35So, a greater number felt that the Kokhrun Janda Party should remain a pressure group.
01:42Will you vote for the Kokhrun Janda Party if they contest it?
01:45Yes said 33%, no said 43%.
01:50But 33% also is not a number to be scoffed at for a party which really doesn't even exist
01:57in terms of recognition or registration,
01:59but is more of an idea.
02:01State of Gen Z, most important issue, significant.
02:06Jobs 53%, education 22%, cost of living 12%, mental health 4%.
02:15View on opportunities for young people.
02:18Hard work and merit matter 32%, money and connections matter 26%, too few opportunities 22%,
02:26opportunities exist but only in certain sectors 14%.
02:30So, a generation that believes there is way too much of nepotism,
02:35that believes that money and connections matter and all too few opportunities,
02:38add them up, comes to about 48%.
02:41One in every two Indians believes that hard work and merit is not enough at the moment.
02:48Okay, who wants to go first on the Kokhrun Janda Party?
02:52Dhipriti, you covered the agitation. What number stands out for you here?
02:56Can I tell you what numbers? Let's take both the numbers together.
02:59Future of CJP and will you vote for CJP if they contest?
03:03And why I think we need to read both the numbers together because Rajdeep,
03:06there is another number in this is don't know, can't say.
03:09So, right on top, future of CJP, remain a pressure group, nearly close to 40% wanted to remain a
03:15pressure group.
03:1626% say no, we want you to enter politics.
03:19There's about 30% that says don't know, can't say.
03:22And I think that's very important to watch out for because when you look at the other figure,
03:26will you vote for CJP?
03:2733% says yes, I will vote for CJP.
03:29No is 43%.
03:31But there is a sizable 20% which again says don't know, can't say.
03:34So, will the CJP make that transition, Rajdeep, to a political party?
03:39If they see the numbers, what will they say?
03:41I think for the CJP, if they are looking at these numbers, these numbers will be heartening.
03:47Contrary to what Abhijay Dipke has always maintained, that he will always be a pressure group and not enter politics.
03:52Though his other colleagues have a contrarian point of view.
03:55These numbers would be heartening for them if they want to make that political jump.
03:59Yeah, what number stands out?
04:01A pressure group will also impact, will have pressure in their own family.
04:06So, if in Tamil Nadu, middle class went with the Gen Z in their own household,
04:11the question now is that Gen Z and urban middle class,
04:14which has been almost like a captive audience of the BJP,
04:17if this pressure group now impacts the pressure within the family,
04:21which we could see a different story.
04:22No, so you're saying even if they remain a pressure group,
04:25they will influence voter behavior.
04:28They could.
04:28Inside their family.
04:29That's where the issue is.
04:30That's what they've done, Radhi.
04:31But I would just say, if you look at this poll, very sensible in their approach.
04:37They do say that they should, you know, contest elections,
04:40but right now they believe pressure group is good for them.
04:43No, they split on that, Radhi.
04:44No, but if you look at the three or four factors that will make them really strengthen themselves in terms
04:49of a political party.
04:50First, you have an agenda.
04:52Now, they've got that right agenda, but they need to expand that beyond education,
04:56get into health, get into livelihoods, jobs, and everything else.
04:59They're just beginning to do that.
05:01So it's important for them to be a pressure group on that front.
05:04Take a look at the leadership.
05:05We saw Dipke is making his splash in the Mood of the Nation poll.
05:101.3, higher than his boss, ex-boss, Kedriwal, but still a long way to go.
05:15Freudian slip.
05:16Go ahead.
05:18So that is the thing they need to look at.
05:20Take a look at organization.
05:22Who is it fighting against?
05:23A formidable organization like the BJP.
05:26I mean, they've perfected that machine to a point where they're winning election after election.
05:31The CJP has to build that organization to contest with that.
05:35And then finally, when you look at the milieu, they've got the milieu right in the sense that there is
05:41a general movement,
05:42including parents saying that jobs, unemployment, all the other issues that they have,
05:47is a problem.
05:47They need to build on that.
05:49So I think if you take a look at this poll, what comes through very clearly is that this is
05:53a very sensible answer
05:54that they're giving right across both in terms of politics, expressing themselves.
05:59What interested me was that they still, on one side, want merit to be there, but feel frustrated.
06:04But it's a red flag for the government.
06:09It's a warning sign for the government.
06:10It's an equally big warning sign for the opposition.
06:13Because they could be eating into Rahul Gandhi's votes or the Congress Party's votes.
06:17And that is why Rahul Gandhi was very smart.
06:20He didn't join the CJP protests.
06:22He carried out his own protests.
06:24And his protests against, so for example, at the Seven Lok Kalyan Mark or other dharnas that Rahul Gandhi did,
06:30that is where he wants to ensure that he retains that opposition space and does not cede it to the
06:35CJP or Amandhi Party.
06:37Are we concluding at this early stage that this is going to be a protest vote which will lead to
06:42a permanent shift?
06:43Does this data give us that sense?
06:45Not at all.
06:46Not at all.
06:46I don't think so.
06:47And the last 50 years, Rajdeep, Raj, you have tracked this more than anyone else on this panel.
06:52Do we forget Assam and the young people who led a movement there?
07:00My limited point is that at this stage, what we should really perhaps attribute to the CJP and the well
07:11that they tapped into is immense amount of discontent around specific issues.
07:18I don't think it's an ideological shift, Rajdeep.
07:20And I'm positing as a question to you.
07:22Yeah, we'll come to those specific issues and I'm going to pull out the numbers on employment in particular as
07:27well as the fairness of examination because those have been two key issues that they've done.
07:31But before I come to that, let's just get in the CJP voices, BJP and Congress for quick comments and
07:37I emphasize the word quick comments, sir.
07:39First to us, the CJP's Vijay Reddy is joining us.
07:43Mr. Reddy, when you look at these numbers, will you be heartened and believe that the time has come to
07:48slowly consider moving into a political group when people say 33% say that they will vote for CJP if
07:55they contest it?
07:56Would you be tempted to join politics?
08:00No, at this moment, we still remain very intact to our goal and our initial plan that we have that
08:08is to remain as a pressure group.
08:09And we feel we get wider acceptance.
08:12We also feel that people don't get, you know, a lot of youth have this stigma towards political parties and
08:19politicians.
08:20So we don't want that tag to drag us down.
08:23We want to remain a pressure group.
08:24We want to be accessible and in touch with the grassroots.
08:28So I think this is the best way forward for us.
08:30Okay, you're saying it's a bit…
08:32Puja is joining us from the Congress and I'm also joined by Guru Prakash Paswan of the BJP.
08:38Mr. Paswan, when you look at these numbers, state of Gen Z, most important issue, jobs, education.
08:46At the two, it's 75%.
08:48Three in every four are worried about jobs or education.
08:52Is that a warning signal again to the government in power?
08:59No, Rajdeep, it's a very interesting data and I think my takeaway from this data would be that our youngsters
09:04are not cynical, they are aspirational.
09:06I was looking after the data and in fact, I saw that the Gen Z is endorsing our reform agenda.
09:1276% of them, they have serious threat against illegal immigration.
09:1670% support one nation, one election.
09:18And I think it's very important, it's a takeaway for us.
09:21And as far as our engagement with the youngsters are concerned, I think this morning, Prime Minister of India had
09:26a massive khelo India dialogue.
09:28Previously in the past as well, in Pariksha ki Baat, Man ki Baat, we have a mechanism.
09:32In fact, last year, Rajdeep, my home state of Bihar, which is the youngest state in the country, it gave
09:37a thumping majority to the Bharti Janta Party at NDA.
09:40So, as a political party, we are constantly evolving, we are observing, we are making analysis as far as the
09:45question of jobs is concerned.
09:46I think startup ecosystem, we have the third largest startup ecosystem after the US and China.
09:51Obviously, there are concerns with respect to job, there are concerns with respect to employment and I think it's an
09:55ongoing issue.
09:56We will definitely have a more constructive, a more solution-oriented approach towards that.
10:01But whether CJP should remain as a pressure group or a political party, I think it's their own prerogative.
10:05You know, there is a warning signal, it's not just about khelo India. Voters now want more. They want more
10:10than slogans.
10:11They want to see, and I'll come to those numbers in a moment because they're pretty staggering when you look
10:16at the numbers on employability and fairness of examination.
10:19But Pooja Tripathi, your first reactions because, you know, Pooja Tripathi, Pooja Tripathi, your first reactions to these numbers.
10:26Because when I look at these numbers, you know, 33% say we'll vote for the CJP if they contest
10:32it.
10:33Clearly, there's a young cohort which is wanting change from the traditional parties, looking for some kind of newness.
10:40Congress doesn't represent novelty, it appears to them.
10:44I think so, Rajdeep, looking at it as a warning sign, I consider it more as an aspirational sign.
10:50Because, you know, the way the youth has been there just now, Mariah, was saying that this Gen Z generation,
10:56the young generation, led to a change of guard in Tamil Nadu.
10:59This young generation, Gen Z generation was too, too kiddy, you know, they were too small when 2019 happened.
11:05But now they're questioning the status quo, now they're, you know, protesting and they're enjoying questioning.
11:12And I think that's what an aspirational India stands for.
11:15Let there be voices because this is a generation which is educated, which is digitally powerful, which is aspirational, yet
11:22economically exhausted if you see the numbers.
11:25And they are looking at an India which has degree without jobs, which has, you know, which has no opportunities,
11:31which is fed up of the examination league system.
11:33And they're questioning it. And questioning this, you know, people want to go away.
11:38No, they're anti-establishment, clearly.
11:41But, Yashwar, just want to understand, since Tamil Nadu is being named by a number of people, there was a
11:46feeling that Vijay's victory was driven by Gen Z.
11:48It was perhaps the first time that you could actually suggest a young cohort took someone to chief ministership.
11:54Is that unique to Tamil Nadu in these numbers, early numbers that we see?
11:58Could we be seeing a Gen Z voter becoming as important as a Mahila voter or the traditional caste and
12:05community vote banks of this country?
12:07Could there be first signs of that?
12:10We saw it in Tamil Nadu, put that spread to the country.
12:13Well, two different data points here, which are not part of the MOTN at this point of time.
12:18But in our post-poll dissection of Tamil Nadu elections, Razdeep, we did mention at that point of time that
12:24more than 20% of Tamil Nadu voters actually decided on the last day of voting, which was unprecedented.
12:31Absolutely unprecedented.
12:32That number generally in the post-poll comes around 7-8%, not 20% plus.
12:36An overwhelming majority of them voted for Vijay under the influence.
12:40They said that under the influence of our kids.
12:42Because that was very evident when we did the cross-trap that whom do you want to see as the
12:46chief minister?
12:47They did not name Vijay.
12:49They mentioned the other two gentlemen, but not Vijay.
12:52So it was very clear they were voting for TVK, but they were not mentioning Vijay.
12:56So there was a very clear case.
12:59The way Vijay's name has picked up.
13:01Two people in this country have kind of amused me in the popularity rating, who are actually more popular outside
13:08their own state.
13:09One is the UP chief minister among the BJP masters, outside Uttar Pradesh, he is more popular.
13:14Another one is Vijay, he is more popular among the Gen Z outside Tamil Nadu now.
13:18So this is very, very critical thing to understand.
13:21Gen Z is a very typical phenomena where they are kind of influencing their family members.
13:28Within the family, they have already become a pressure group.
13:31You know, it's not that they are, go back to the original fountainhead of the UGC in the way you
13:39are talking about the Hindi core vote.
13:42That core vote is getting influenced by their Gen Z as the fountainhead as well.
13:46Okay, let's do a deeper dive into Gen Z and then you all can take it forward.
13:50Biggest employment problem, because let's break down employment.
13:55It's one thing to say employment.
13:56Biggest employment problem, not enough jobs.
14:0032% say that.
14:01Salaries are too low, 18%.
14:04Jobs don't match qualifications, 17%.
14:07Government recruitment's low is 17%.
14:10Who is responsible for improving employability?
14:13Union and state government, 63%.
14:16So large number blame, don't blame only their anti-establishment.
14:20Whoever is in power is getting a blowback.
14:22Schools and universities, 14%.
14:24Private employees, 9%.
14:26Individuals and families, 5%.
14:27How confident are you of fairness of examinations?
14:31A great deal, 14%.
14:33Fair amount, 9%.
14:34Not much, 27%.
14:36None at all, 40%.
14:38Add the two.
14:4067% of those polled are saying
14:43either they have no faith or not much faith
14:46in the way exams are conducted.
14:49What should be the government's higher priority?
14:51Improve education and healthcare, 23%.
14:54Infra and capital expenditure, 21%.
14:57Direct support to households, 16%.
15:00All should require, receive equal priority, 18%.
15:04Reducing taxes, 8%.
15:05But employability is becoming more and more important.
15:09There's a sense of anxiety, of frustration
15:11that's coming out here.
15:12Who's benefiting, we're not clear.
15:14Raj, just on this employability bit,
15:16I think political reporters are making a mistake
15:19when it comes to attributing Gen Z and Tamil Nadu
15:22in the manner it was done.
15:23Tamil Nadu, let us state it on record,
15:25has the highest number of manufacturing jobs.
15:27It has amongst the best employment rates.
15:29So please do not attribute Gen Z
15:32and the behavior in the recent election.
15:33So maybe they want novelty.
15:34Maybe Gen Z is also partly about novelty and change.
15:36I'm not going there.
15:37All I'm saying is the question that we have to ask is
15:40that is Gen Z now upset with welfarism
15:44and are the limits of welfarism as defined by the BJP,
15:49the Labarthi class, now clashing head-on with the Gen Z?
15:52There's no sign of that, but Preeti, you want to make a point?
15:56You know, the point that I want to make stems from what Sidhad said.
15:59Can we actually look at these numbers and actually feel
16:02that it gives us a sense that the CJP can actually turn
16:06into a political force?
16:08But Siddharth, you know, comparisons with the Assam Ganu Parusha
16:11that we are making, you know, that's true.
16:12No, let's compare with Navnirman movement.
16:14No, any movement.
16:15Let's compare with Navnirman.
16:16Hear me out.
16:16No, no, but let's just look at the numbers.
16:18Can I, can I just...
16:18I want you all to extrapolate from these numbers.
16:20What are the numbers, can I?
16:22Something has shifted.
16:23Where in the last time, Raj,
16:25when we have done the Mood of the Nation poll,
16:27you've had jobs as much as mental health on the same page.
16:31It's never quite registered.
16:33There is a reason why the Gen Z is feeling what it's feeling.
16:36I'm not saying.
16:37For example, six months ago, Rajdeep,
16:40when the Cockroach Janata party was nothing more
16:42than a social media page on Instagram,
16:44did we even think that it would be able to make that leap
16:48from Instagram onto Jantar Mantar
16:50and actually spark the kind of protest and movement
16:54in terms of people...
16:55Can I just...
16:57I just want to get a clarification from Yashwan.
17:01These numbers, Yashwan,
17:02are only taken of Gen Z voters or across the board?
17:05No, Gen Z.
17:06When you say 53% of Gen Z voters are worried about jobs,
17:10am I clear?
17:11That's the cohort you've looked at.
17:12What you are looking at the Gen Z is the Gen Z number.
17:16Okay.
17:16So therefore, when I look at it,
17:17that's, you see, 53% jobs, 22% education, 75%.
17:22So CJP has struck the right issues.
17:25That's become very clear.
17:26And why is it important?
17:28Because Gen Z, which roughly defined as people born after 1997 and 2012,
17:33found 30% of the electorate.
17:35They have, of course, grown up only with Prime Minister Modi.
17:38But more important, the issue that you're raising
17:40is the complete mismatch between education and employment.
17:43And that's what the media is looking at.
17:45No, no, let me just finish this point, Prisi.
17:47Let me just finish this point.
17:49And you're seeing that anger that is coming out there
17:51because what has happened is that they have struggled through.
17:55Many of the middle class have tried their best to pass these exams.
17:59They get very upset if someone into it.
18:01They want merit, but someone comes and fixes the system.
18:04Then when they move up, if you look at the other question,
18:07when they actually get a job, it is not what they're qualified for.
18:10That's far below.
18:12There are not enough jobs available for these people who are studying,
18:16you know, have graduation and others.
18:17And therefore, they get into poor quality jobs.
18:21So then what happens is there's frustration.
18:23That's why if you look at it, they say that the quality of job,
18:26salaries, these are very important.
18:28That's not happening.
18:29So what the CJP is plugged into is a discontent that is there
18:34and unfairness in the system.
18:35And let me just take this a little larger, this thing.
18:38The fact of ethics and the deteriorating ethics,
18:41also in the political class,
18:43the kind of switch rules that are happening,
18:44people are switching.
18:45On one side, you have the exams not being conducted properly.
18:49On the other, when you look at what the ethics of the political class,
18:53they can switch loyalties that is there.
18:55So you're seeing an uprising not just of this education,
18:58but a larger point.
18:58You see, look at this number.
19:00Who is responsible for improving employability?
19:0363% are blaming union and state government.
19:06So if it's in Jarkhand, they will blame a Heman Soren government
19:09of which the Congress is in part.
19:10If it is at the center, they are blaming the central government.
19:13It's not as if this vote is anti one particular party.
19:18It's a general anti-establishment.
19:20Whoever is in power,
19:21we have nothing to do.
19:22That's right.
19:23Neeti Aayog report, which has just come out,
19:25has actually said that the graduate unemployment is as high as 13%.
19:29They are also saying that despite training,
19:327.67 crore individuals are also unemployed.
19:36You know, that is the data that we are looking at,
19:38and this is government's own acknowledgement of the challenges.
19:42So what you say is right,
19:44when they say that there are the entire examination system,
19:48public examination system is a challenge,
19:50the question would be, Rajdeep,
19:53why an NTA?
19:55It was created in 2017,
19:56and the entire examination process
19:59has been so flawed now
20:01that the questions are being raised,
20:03what is the purpose of the NTA?
20:05And then,
20:06when education as a subject
20:08is in concurrent list,
20:11then that's the reason why
20:12both the union and the state governments
20:13are being blamed.
20:14No, because examinations are conducted
20:15across the country.
20:16In every state,
20:18examinations are now being found to be flawed.
20:20So, you know,
20:21I'm only looking at it,
20:22political impact.
20:23Who gets the blowback?
20:25Anger is clear.
20:26Anxiety is clear.
20:27Frustration is clear.
20:28Who gets the political blowback?
20:30Yashwan Deshmukh.
20:31Because if we look at the numbers
20:32that you put out earlier
20:33for the bigger picture,
20:35there is clearly anti-incumbency,
20:38but not overwhelming.
20:39I want to understand,
20:41where is the Gen Z's vote going?
20:43Where is the vote going?
20:44Mr. Paswan said at the start
20:46that the Gen Z is still with the BJP
20:48cited the example of Bihar.
20:50Are they shifting voting preferences
20:52along with the issues?
20:55I think Gen Z is going
20:56where the solution is,
20:58where they feel the solution is.
21:00They do not want you
21:01to remind them of the problems.
21:03They want you to come up
21:05with a solution.
21:06This is why the traditional
21:07opposition parties
21:08are not clicking with them either
21:10because the traditional
21:10opposition parties
21:11are only raising the voice.
21:12There is a problem.
21:13There is a problem.
21:14There is a problem.
21:14They are not coming up
21:16with a solution.
21:17You see,
21:17the problem is
21:18the complete shift
21:19of narrative
21:20or contrasting narrative
21:21for the BJP
21:22has been playing.
21:23You know,
21:25as Raj just pointed out
21:27that by 29,
21:29there will be 30%
21:30of Gen Z over there.
21:32Forget Nehru,
21:33they won't even remember UPA.
21:35Forget about blame Nehru campaign.
21:37I'm going by your numbers.
21:39I'm going by your numbers,
21:41Yashwant.
21:42Despite all of this,
21:43Gen Z may be
21:44less enthusiastic
21:45over Prime Minister
21:46Narendra Modi,
21:47but are they shifting
21:48to Rahul Gandhi?
21:49Clearly,
21:50it doesn't,
21:50your numbers
21:51don't seem to indicate that.
21:52If Modi is getting
21:5343.9% among Gen Z
21:55as against 48% overall
21:57or 48.7% overall,
21:59Rahul Gandhi is just
22:00getting 27.4%
22:02as against 27.1% overall.
22:04So there's just a 0.3% gain
22:06for Rahul Gandhi.
22:07No major gain
22:08in this Gen Z anger.
22:10Gaurab,
22:11simply because
22:12the Gen Z is smart,
22:13they won't jump
22:14from one ship
22:15to the other
22:16unless there is
22:16another better
22:17alternative available.
22:19They are angry,
22:20they are saying
22:21that we are angry,
22:22we are upset,
22:23the things are not happening.
22:24But they are not
22:25just jumping around
22:27simply because
22:27there is no alternative
22:29that they see
22:29as a viable alternative
22:30which is giving them
22:32a solution.
22:33So in a sense,
22:34in a sense,
22:35therefore the challenge,
22:36the warning signals
22:36are for both
22:37from Gen Z.
22:38For the government
22:39and the opposition.
22:41Provide a more
22:41credible opposition
22:42and a model
22:43that we can feel
22:44attracted to.
22:45For the government,
22:46you are losing
22:47the narrative.
22:48Mr. Paswan,
22:49you concede,
22:50that's been the
22:50wake-up call
22:51because the Modi
22:52government has been
22:53known to be very good
22:54with managing narratives.
22:55Gen Z has come
22:57and disrupted it.
22:58They put on
22:59the national map,
23:00whether you like it
23:01or not,
23:01jobs and education.
23:02You can do
23:03Khello India,
23:04you can do
23:04Insta-Greels,
23:05but people are saying
23:06Naokri kithar hai,
23:08Shikshah kithar hai.
23:13No, Rajdeep,
23:14you are a very
23:15senior journalist.
23:16You have been
23:16following elections
23:17since decades.
23:18I think I have been
23:19following elections
23:20since 1999,
23:21Lok Sabha.
23:22And every single
23:22election, Rajdeep,
23:23and I am sure
23:24Yashwan ji would agree
23:25that every single
23:26election,
23:27education and
23:27employment has been
23:28the key voter
23:29determinant behavior.
23:30I think every election
23:32after five years,
23:33so I personally
23:34don't see any novelty
23:35or any uniqueness
23:36with respect to this
23:36survey or with respect
23:37to this observation
23:38or the data that
23:39has come out.
23:40Every single election,
23:41every single state
23:42election,
23:42we have seen the
23:43manifesto making
23:44of my party,
23:45of other parties as
23:46well.
23:46Education and
23:47employment are the
23:48two heads that
23:48are always being
23:49discussed.
23:50not true, Guru.
23:51I don't see anything
23:52personally unique.
23:52You know, why I'm
23:53saying it's not true
23:53is I pull in
23:54Yashwan Tundish.
23:55I'll tell you why,
23:56the point that you
23:57made is untrue.
23:58Yeah, let him finish.
23:59Let him finish.
24:00Because, you know,
24:01manifestos are one thing.
24:02You put it in a...
24:03People are asking for
24:04results.
24:04People are asking for
24:05outcomes.
24:06You put it in the
24:07manifesto and I don't
24:08get jobs.
24:09You put it in the
24:09manifesto, I'll clean up
24:11exams, they don't get
24:11clean.
24:12People are...
24:12This generation is
24:13being more demanding
24:14and accountable.
24:15That's what...
24:16But, you know,
24:17Guru, one point
24:17which you raised
24:18because over the
24:19course of time,
24:20if you look at
24:20MOTN data, right,
24:21employment has only
24:23come up in the
24:24last few surveys
24:25and it's only
24:26increasing in terms
24:27of traction.
24:28We had other
24:29issues that even
24:30the Gen Z was
24:30voting on.
24:31Now, that has
24:32changed.
24:33And maybe it's not
24:33just Gen Z also,
24:34Guru, because there's
24:35also millennials.
24:36Jharkhand was
24:37millennials.
24:37It wasn't Gen Z.
24:38Okay, let him
24:39respond.
24:40One thing, one
24:41quick comment.
24:41Yashwan, let him
24:42complete.
24:43Guru happens to be
24:43one of my few
24:44favorite spokespersons
24:46Yeah, let him
24:47respond, please.
24:48Yeah, yeah.
24:48Just a very quick
24:49one because let me
24:50put this to Guru
24:51because he will
24:51understand that one.
24:53Very quickly, one.
24:54You see, I presume
24:55that if the Gen Z
24:57would be swinging
24:58from the ruling
25:01spectrum to the
25:02opposition in a
25:02routine way, I
25:04would think that
25:05BJP would found
25:06it easy.
25:07That, okay,
25:08this routine
25:08is going to be
25:09going to be
25:10But this is
25:11something very
25:12different.
25:13They are not
25:14swinging the
25:14routine way.
25:15They are
25:16looking for
25:17better alternative
25:18and that
25:18will, this
25:19is exactly
25:20which is
25:20good and
25:21bad vote
25:21for the
25:22BJP.
25:22Good in
25:23a way that
25:23it is not
25:24actually helping
25:25the Congress
25:25right now.
25:26Bad in
25:27a way, they
25:27are dealing
25:28with a
25:28generation which
25:29is actually
25:30looking for
25:31right set of
25:32answers, not
25:33a routine
25:34pendulum swing.
25:35I mean,
25:36okay.
25:38It's only
25:38fair, you
25:39know, everyone
25:40has intervened
25:40while Guru
25:41Prakash has
25:41been trying to
25:42complete his
25:42point.
25:42Finish up.
25:47No, no,
25:47Preeti, I am
25:49not disagreeing
25:50with you.
25:50When you say
25:50that education
25:51and employment
25:51are the two
25:52key issues,
25:53I am not at
25:53all disagreeing
25:54with you.
25:54In fact, I
25:55agree it's an
25:56issue, it's
25:56a challenge and
25:57we have to
25:57come and deal
25:58with it.
25:59And I agree
25:59with Yashwan
26:00Ji where in
26:01his previous
26:01observation he
26:02said that the
26:02Gen Z today
26:03are looking for
26:04concrete solutions,
26:05not just the
26:06problem, not
26:06just the
26:07rhetoric.
26:07I think that's
26:08the absolute
26:09marvisly put
26:10it but two
26:10very limited
26:11points which
26:12I am trying
26:12to make.
26:13One is the
26:13data from
26:14RBI claims
26:15because I
26:16think Maria
26:16quoted the
26:16data from
26:17Neeti Aayog.
26:18The RBI claims
26:18data in
26:192026 has
26:20said that the
26:21jobs, again
26:21I am not
26:22trying to make
26:22any comparison
26:232014-2026 but
26:25this need to
26:26be stated here.
26:26From about
26:2847 crore
26:29organized jobs
26:30to 64 crore
26:31jobs in
26:312026, about
26:3336% increase.
26:34And another
26:35important point
26:35when it comes
26:36to Gen Z,
26:37in 2016 the
26:38DPIT categorically
26:39said that there
26:40are only 450
26:41registered startups
26:42which is now
26:43about 2 lakh
26:43startups, finally
26:45giving to about
26:4620 to 25 lakhs
26:47direct and
26:48indirect jobs.
26:49I completely
26:50agree with all
26:51of you when
26:51you say that
26:52jobs, education,
26:53employment is
26:54an issue, I
26:55don't disagree
26:55with it.
26:56But at the
26:56same time, my
26:57point Rajdeep
26:58D that it
26:59has been an
26:59issue in
26:591999, in
27:012004.
27:01But the
27:02scale is
27:02sir, sir, I
27:05take your
27:05point but along
27:06with that, when
27:07examining people
27:07sir, you see
27:08the point is
27:09if you look at
27:10our poll, where
27:11is the BJP
27:11taking its biggest
27:12hit at the
27:13moment?
27:13It is in
27:14states ruled
27:14by it in
27:15the Hindi
27:15heartland.
27:15That's where
27:16government jobs
27:17are shrinking.
27:17That's where
27:18job opportunities
27:19are shrinking.
27:19That's where
27:20the number of
27:21exams, for
27:21example, that
27:22have been seen
27:24to be manipulated
27:25are the highest.
27:25That's your
27:26worry.
27:27Education and
27:28jobs have
27:28always been
27:29there.
27:29But now it's
27:30reaching a
27:31tipping point.
27:32And that
27:32tipping point is
27:33what you've got
27:33to worry when
27:34you look at
27:34narratives.
27:35But let me
27:36turn to
27:36Vijay Reddy of
27:37the CJP.
27:38You've hit the
27:39right issues in
27:40a way, education
27:41and employment.
27:42The question is
27:43what next?
27:44Is this going to
27:45be a sustained,
27:45for example, your
27:46next agitation
27:47you're saying is
27:48school.
27:48School,
27:48do it.
27:49Are you going
27:50to be able to
27:50make that into a
27:51nationwide movement,
27:52Mr. Reddy?
27:53Or is this going
27:53to be episodic?
27:55We have already
27:56done it.
27:56In fact, the
27:57Rajasthan
27:57government which
27:59neglected the
27:59schools has
28:00sanctioned close
28:01to 1200 crores
28:02to fix their
28:03schools.
28:04And the
28:04school which
28:04our co-convener
28:06Mr. Rashutosh
28:06Ranka had
28:07visited, they
28:09sent out an
28:10order to fix
28:10that school.
28:11Whereas they
28:12were shameful.
28:12They were
28:12very, you
28:14know, they
28:14didn't even
28:14want us to
28:15visit that
28:15school and
28:16expose how
28:16that school
28:17was running
28:17under a
28:17buffalo shed.
28:18So, we
28:18are making
28:19this national
28:20agenda topic
28:21education and
28:22this is
28:23happening across
28:24the state.
28:24I believe
28:25Mr. Yogi
28:26Adityanadji had
28:27also come up
28:28with some
28:29plans on,
28:30you know,
28:30fixing the
28:31schools in
28:31Uttar Pradesh.
28:32So, what
28:32happened all
28:33these years is
28:34what we are,
28:34you know,
28:35asking them.
28:35Why couldn't
28:36they fix it
28:36unless we
28:37start showing
28:38them?
28:38And the
28:39moment we
28:39start showing
28:40them, they
28:40are coming up
28:41with orders
28:42stating that
28:43it's a threat
28:43and it's a
28:44safety threat to
28:45the students.
28:45But there is
28:46no problem if
28:47they are running
28:47under a buffalo
28:48shed.
28:49So, that was
28:49not a threat
28:49to the
28:50students and
28:50kids.
28:51So, this
28:51double
28:52standards is
28:52what people
28:53are questioning.
28:54You know,
28:55Pooja ji, at
28:55least the
28:56CJP is
28:56raising these
28:57agitations.
28:58It's taking
28:59this to the
29:00street.
29:00The Congress
29:01Chhatro ki
29:02Ghoonj.
29:02Rahul Gandhi
29:03is going to
29:04Pune addressing
29:04women students,
29:06going to
29:06Prayag Raj
29:07addressing large
29:08gatherings.
29:08But those
29:08are speeches.
29:10That direct
29:11connect that you
29:12need for the
29:12last mile
29:13connectivity is a
29:13new model.
29:14It's one thing
29:15to attack the
29:15government.
29:16But what does
29:16the Congress
29:17stand for,
29:17for Gen Z?
29:19You need a new
29:20type of, you
29:22need a new
29:22vocabulary for
29:23them as well.
29:24Where is your
29:25new vocabulary?
29:25Where are your
29:26young leaders?
29:27I want to
29:28correct you.
29:29These are not
29:29political speeches.
29:31These are one-to-one
29:32interactions.
29:33They bring the
29:33students, they bring
29:34the families on
29:35the stage and
29:36they share their
29:36concerns.
29:37They share their
29:38demands.
29:38They share their
29:39vision.
29:39And that's what
29:40the new
29:40vocabulary is.
29:41So, what's the
29:41alternative?
29:43So, what's the
29:44alternative?
29:45What's the
29:45alternative?
29:46What is your
29:47model for Gen Z?
29:48Because as
29:49Guru Prakash
29:50Paswan was
29:50saying,
29:51employment is
29:51on the agenda
29:52from 1999.
29:53Two crore jobs
29:54were promised,
29:55not delivered.
29:56Just now,
29:57yesterday I was
29:57reading Yogi
29:58Adityanath is
29:59filing FIAR
30:00against some
30:00activist Rajat
30:01Singh who is
30:02visiting schools
30:03and bringing out
30:04discrepancies in
30:04schools.
30:05So, if their
30:06outreach, Gen Z
30:07outreach is making
30:08insta-reels and
30:09having FIAR or
30:10asking us to
30:11sing six
30:12transas of
30:13Vande Matram,
30:13Gen Z will
30:14say no to
30:15this.
30:15But compared
30:16to that, Rahul
30:17Gandhi is the
30:17one who's
30:18sitting at
30:18police station
30:19on Dharna
30:20for six
30:20hours.
30:21Just that,
30:22you know,
30:22somebody's
30:23right to
30:24register an
30:25FIAR is
30:25complicated.
30:26So, Rahul
30:27Gandhi, you
30:28know, your
30:30survey may
30:31not show
30:31this.
30:32Six hours of
30:33sitting, ma'am,
30:34six hours of
30:35sitting on a
30:35Dharna will
30:36get you the
30:37headline.
30:37Does it
30:37transform the
30:38narrative in
30:39terms of a
30:40new model?
30:40What is the
30:41model for
30:41change?
30:42You see, Raj,
30:43as a concluding
30:44point, what is
30:46the change that
30:47the Congress
30:47represents?
30:48All said and
30:48done, CJP is
30:49the new kid on
30:50the block.
30:50Vijay was the
30:51new kid on
30:51the block.
30:52Didn't come
30:52with any
30:53baggage, which
30:54perhaps helped
30:54them with Gen
30:55Z.
30:55Do you believe
30:56that the
30:57Congress party or
30:58any opposition
30:58party, the
30:59traditional parties
31:00can benefit from
31:01this Gen Z
31:01anger?
31:02I think, you
31:03know, if you
31:03look at it, the
31:04Gen Z poll is
31:05pretty sensible, the
31:06way that this
31:07particular cohort is
31:08behaving.
31:08I have some, maybe
31:10let's call it
31:11disappointment with
31:11some of the
31:12answers that they've
31:13given, which the
31:14Congress and others
31:14can tap into.
31:16Firstly, when you
31:16ask them what kind of
31:17jobs they're looking
31:18for, they're saying
31:19government jobs.
31:20Second, they blame the
31:21government heavily, both
31:22the center and state, for
31:23not doing what they're
31:24doing.
31:24I would expect this
31:25generation to say, give
31:27me the opportunities,
31:29because this is a
31:29generation that
31:30believes in, you
31:32know...
31:32Sir, easier said
31:33than done in the
31:33Hindi art land.
31:34No, no, hang on.
31:35Hang on, hang on.
31:35Easier said than
31:36done.
31:37You can whack the
31:38government, but there's
31:38a limited number of
31:39government jobs.
31:40So I think what any
31:42party should be doing is
31:43providing avenues for
31:44them to set up their
31:45own businesses and
31:46flourish as
31:47entrepreneurs.
31:48That is the model that
31:49you need to look at,
31:50whether the Congress, the
31:51BJP and others, apart
31:53from whatever government
31:54jobs are there, give
31:54them, but train them in
31:56this whole thing.
31:56When we're saying the
31:57education mismatch is
31:58there, how do you get
31:59them to skill themselves,
32:01create that, and
32:02secondly, provide the
32:03opportunities and the...
32:05Yeah, but you know,
32:06for years, the government
32:06has spoken about skill
32:08development, and you've
32:09spoken about...
32:10That's where the
32:11Congress can come in,
32:12that's where the CJP can
32:13come in, not just wine,
32:14but actually move in
32:16that direction.
32:16Point taken.
32:17Okay, we have lots of
32:18final numbers to give,
32:20and each of you can then
32:21tell me which is the one
32:22that stands out.
32:23Do you believe elections
32:24in India...
32:25Gaurav, good news for
32:26you.
32:26Do you believe elections
32:27in India are free and
32:28fair?
32:2852% say yes, that's
32:30down compared to 57%
32:32last time.
32:33No say 41%, that's up
32:36compared to 37% last
32:38time.
32:38But the IAs are ahead
32:40of the no's.
32:41Trust in election
32:42commission up or down,
32:44increase 43%, decrease
32:4638%, same 9%, because
32:48there have been questions
32:49over the election
32:50commission's fairness.
32:51views on voter names
32:52deletion during SIR, 60%
32:55said necessary for SIR to
32:57remove bogus voters,
32:58necessary but carried out
32:59with bias in 20%, designed
33:01to remove specific group,
33:0311%.
33:03So election commission will
33:04look at these figures with a
33:06sense of satisfaction.
33:07Is illegal immigration a
33:08serious threat?
33:09Say yes, say 76%, no, say
33:119%.
33:12That's why I said, Gaurav
33:13Samad will look at these
33:14numbers and say, I told you
33:15so.
33:16Need to strengthen anti-defection
33:17law.
33:18Yes, say 65%.
33:19So the Dant Madhlus are
33:21clearly getting a warning
33:22signal.
33:23No, say 14%.
33:25Should delimitation be based
33:27only on population?
33:2833% say based on current
33:30population.
33:31Consider population control
33:33performance too.
33:34This is what the south
33:35states are saying.
33:3640% are saying yes.
33:37Continue present distribution,
33:399%.
33:40Implement women's reservation
33:41without linking to
33:42delimitation.
33:44What the government wants
33:45to do.
33:45Yes, say 4...
33:47Opposition.
33:48Sorry, what the
33:49opposition wants.
33:50Yes, say 47%.
33:51Majority are saying do not
33:53link women's reservation
33:55to delimitation.
33:56Go ahead with it.
33:57No, say 22%.
33:58Do you support one nation,
34:00one poor?
34:01Meetings are going on on
34:02that.
34:02Yes, say 70%.
34:03No, say 24%.
34:05That's a huge headline.
34:07Huge headline.
34:08Okay.
34:09When it comes to one nation,
34:10one poll, 70%, 70% say yes,
34:15one nation, one poll.
34:17So Gen Z really want to
34:18ensure that you don't
34:20waste time and resources,
34:22precious resources in
34:24elections all the time.
34:26These numbers are across
34:27groups, not just Gen Z.
34:28These are not just Gen Z
34:29numbers, these are across.
34:30Hold on.
34:31Let's get Raj.
34:32Are these Gen Z numbers?
34:34No, no.
34:35These are across the board.
34:36These are all numbers.
34:37One minute.
34:37Ram temple thefts impact on
34:39union on state government.
34:41Negatively affected both
34:42governments, 47%.
34:44Affected union government,
34:458%.
34:45State government, 7%.
34:47No local administrative
34:48issue, 20%.
34:49Has climate change
34:51affected your life?
34:53Yes, significantly.
34:5453%.
34:55Yes, a little.
34:5625%.
34:57No, 9%.
34:58When you look at these numbers,
34:59you said one nation, one poll.
35:01There are three things that
35:02really stand out.
35:03One, one nation, one election,
35:05which was the norm in our
35:07country from 1951 onwards.
35:10So 51, 57, 62, 67, all one
35:14nation, one elections and
35:15suddenly state governments were
35:16dismissed and then you
35:19didn't have one nation.
35:19Number two, election commission,
35:22free and fair elections in this
35:23country.
35:23So that entire narrative of
35:25vote chowry, at least, you
35:27know, the respondents here
35:28don't believe in it.
35:29Trust in election commission
35:31has increased and SIR.
35:33SIR is essential.
35:3560% say you have to remove
35:38bogus voters.
35:39All that narrative about, you
35:40know, vote chowry actually goes
35:42down the drain here.
35:43Okay, what stands out for you
35:44guys?
35:45Who wants to go?
35:46Go ahead, Preeti.
35:47Okay, you know, what really
35:48stands out in terms of all
35:50that data that we've put
35:51forth, Rajdeep, for me, is
35:53one question, the state of
35:54Gen Z's most important
35:55issues and why I say it's
35:57important for us to look at
35:58that.
35:592024, what really propelled
36:01also and supported the BJP's
36:04rise has always been their
36:05core constituency, which lies
36:07in the Hindi heartland.
36:08I just want to take our
36:09viewers through some data on
36:11how much Gen Z that we speak
36:13of resides in the Hindi
36:14heartland.
36:15Bihar, 37% right now in
36:18Bihar, it's the Gen Z that
36:20is there.
36:2134% in Uttar Pradesh, 33% in
36:24Rajasthan, 32% in Madhya
36:27Pradesh.
36:27So the entire Hindi
36:28heartland, which was the core
36:30vote bag of the Bharati
36:31Ajanta party today, seemingly
36:34is not very charmed with the
36:37BJP.
36:38In terms of at the back of the
36:39protest, we see.
36:39That's the warning signal.
36:40That's the warning and I
36:41think that's what we need to
36:42Let's come back to the other
36:44numbers.
36:44One nation, one pole.
36:45Of course, Gaurav is right in
36:47saying a large number do
36:49support it.
36:49Whether that can be now
36:50implemented with a two-thirds
36:51majority, given the federal
36:53nature of our polity, huge
36:54question mark, number of state
36:56governments.
36:56Federal nature was also there in
36:5851, 52, 57, 64, 67.
37:01Gaurav, there are constitutional
37:02questions also.
37:03It's not so easy that you press a
37:05button and say it happened in
37:0651, 57, 62.
37:08India's polity was very
37:10different to what it is.
37:11We didn't have as many regional
37:12parties as we do today.
37:14We have to look at the context in
37:15which we live.
37:16We cannot say this happened in the
37:171950s.
37:18But I'm only going by the
37:19numbers.
37:20The numbers are saying, people are
37:21saying they want one nation, one
37:22pole.
37:23Is there anything that stands out
37:24for you, Maria?
37:24We can't prevent women's reservation
37:25without linking to delimitation.
37:27The sense that delimitation and
37:30women's reservation should not be
37:32linked, as is being spoken about by
37:34most opposition parties, I think
37:37that is going to be the big
37:38takeaway.
37:38And SIR debate largely, I think, is
37:41more or less settled, Rajdeep, that
37:43SIR and deletion is not the same.
37:45Do you think when the government
37:46looks at these numbers, they're going
37:47to say, no, no, we are still going
37:48ahead and linking delimitation and
37:50women's reservation as we are
37:51planning next month?
37:52I think the government is fairly
37:54sure that they would be pushing
37:55for delimitation.
37:56But the question is, do they have
37:57the numbers?
37:57Rajdeep, I spoke to Kiran
37:58Rajdeep, and I posed the same
38:00question yesterday, where the
38:01parliamentary affairs minister, he's
38:02very clear because I also asked him
38:04a question that, listen, what, why
38:06can't you go with what the
38:07opposition is asking, which is
38:08delink the two.
38:09They're happy to go for delimitation,
38:11but delink, you know, happy to go
38:13for women's reservation, but delink
38:14delimitation.
38:15He goes back and says that that
38:16cannot be possible because of the
38:18clause of 2003.
38:19And I told him, but you can change
38:21that because you have been able
38:22to change, you know, you have that
38:24kind of numbers, but they're very
38:25clear that they are not going
38:27forward where women's reservation
38:29is concerned without delimitation.
38:31And he made that very clear.
38:33Yes, what's the number that
38:34stands out?
38:34The most important thing that
38:36stands out to me is that our
38:39politics is now being influenced by
38:42the educated who are unemployed.
38:45This is not a unique feature.
38:48It has happened perhaps around every
38:49election, but this time there is a
38:51structural mismatch without going into
38:53the details.
38:54I think the biggest challenge right now
38:56from these findings, if we try and
38:58summarize them, is for the BJP to ask
39:00itself and find answers to the question
39:02that it has done phenomenally high
39:05levels of infrastructure spending and
39:08there is a visible result on the ground.
39:11Yet, why is there discontent in the same
39:14younger generation which is enjoying
39:16those roads, highways, making reels on
39:18them, driving very fast, and whether the
39:22belief in the future vision that the
39:24government keeps talking about is going
39:26down to the masses.
39:27The Labhartis hopefully for the BJP remain
39:31consolidated, but is there a fissure around
39:34the caste coalition that the BJP had so well
39:38formulated over the last 10-12 years?
39:41Rajdeep, I think that is the question.
39:43And finally, to me, the dichotomy, and I
39:47really thought that this would come up, is
39:48that if that is true, then what about Rahul
39:51Gandhi's claim of Jitni Abadi, Utna Haq?
39:54Why isn't there a dramatic shift towards
39:57him?
39:57So, many things we don't have an answer, but
40:00the ground reality for everyday households
40:03that are being faced across India and across
40:06caste, creed, and political divide is
40:09something that every ruling incumbent government
40:12will have to face.
40:13The warning signal.
40:14Let's come back to your cover.
40:16You know, there could have been two covers
40:19from what I can see.
40:21Modi holds on despite headwinds.
40:23You know, there are headwinds, but he still
40:24holds on.
40:26The other one is that you may be holding on,
40:29but there are signs of clear, visible
40:33anti-incumbency, especially in BJP-ruled states.
40:36I think that's their concern, and in the
40:38Hindi heartland in particular, where jobs
40:40and education perhaps are the primary issues
40:43for the young.
40:45You chose warning signs.
40:46You didn't go with Modi holds on.
40:49We have both options.
40:50But we thought warning signals was, much of
40:53this poll was talking about for not just for
40:55the BJP, but from across this political
40:57spectrum that they need to look at.
40:58If you ask me numbers to cherry pick, of
41:01course, you can always do it based on your
41:02leanings, but I would say one figure that you
41:05had quoted earlier was the big, you know, what
41:09was the single biggest failure of the NDA
41:11government, and three things came up.
41:14One was, of course, right on top unemployment.
41:16Two was inflation, and third was economic
41:19growth expressed through farmers' distress,
41:23poverty, and others.
41:23If you add those up, they come to close to 60%.
41:27Now, any government, not just the BJP government,
41:30all the state governments must look at this
41:33signal.
41:33Because if 70% are unhappy with their current
41:36economic position, and if you drill that down
41:38further, no, let me just finish.
41:40No, I've got a question to you.
41:41Yeah, no, let me just drill down there.
41:42If you look at that, that more than anything else
41:45to the people, whether it's delimitation, whether it's
41:48women's reservation, they're all important issues.
41:50Every government needs to focus on this, otherwise
41:52we'll have what we saw, the CJP and the unrest, that
41:56will only grow if you don't do what you're doing.
41:58But Raj, one second.
41:59But Raj, in the past, successively over election
42:02upon election, hasn't economic pain, administrative
42:05failure, misgovernance been decoupled from actual
42:10ground-level voting behavior?
42:11Yeah, except that if you see what happened in July 2026,
42:16an unusual event, an inflection point in Indian politics
42:21when the young raised their voices in protest.
42:24If you look at history, start with, you want to say
42:27Navnirman, start with JP's movement.
42:30Right from that time, student unrest leads to a total
42:33revolution and the overthrow of a government.
42:35Then you move to mandal agitation.
42:37Again, you create a divide and you see not only does
42:42the government fall at that time, but you also have
42:44the rise of new leaders like Lalu Prasad Yadav,
42:47Mulyam Singh Yadav and Nidish Kumar.
42:48Then let us move very quickly to the India against
42:51corruption, where again you have a movement where that
42:54becomes a political movement and you have a limited
42:57impact in the sense KGWal emerges out of it.
42:59You can cherry pick any of these, but each of these
43:02things make the difference.
43:04You can say, yeah, there was always economic issues,
43:06but I think suddenly you have 30% of the cohort asking,
43:09we want jobs, we need them quickly and correct your act.
43:14I'm just going to put one rider.
43:17What's your answer to that question?
43:19What is your answer to that question?
43:20Because I think the problem, and that's my problem with
43:22polls and my statutory warning to polls.
43:25We are just too complicated and diverse a country.
43:27Yes, I agree.
43:28The Gen Z, you see the Gen Z that we look at Tamil Nadu,
43:31you're right.
43:31It's a state with the highest growth rate.
43:33You know, if there's one state which can claim that they've
43:36actually got their economic model right, it's Tamil Nadu.
43:39And yet Gen Z chose a new candidate for reasons that had
43:42nothing to do with the economic failures of the government or
43:45jobs and education.
43:46They chose them because they wanted novelty.
43:48They were tired of the duopoly of the Dravidian parties.
43:51Come to North India.
43:52I think the most significant takeaway from this poll is the
43:55churning taking place in the Hindi heartland.
43:57You see, after 15, 20 years of BJP's dominance, and it's been
44:02dominant, they've got some warning signals.
44:04That's, I don't think it's pan-India.
44:06But why is the churning?
44:07What is leading to the churning?
44:08Because I think, you see, I think the core vote is for the first
44:12time feeling a sense of anxiety, anxious.
44:15It may not necessarily be Gen Z.
44:17Maria is right.
44:18The parents of Gen Z may also be influenced by what their
44:20children are going through.
44:22And no government has answers.
44:24The reason why the opposition is not being able to capitalize
44:27on it, because the opposition also does not have at the
44:30moment a viable model, a credible model.
44:33We are at that, and that's why I don't think it can be
44:36compared to the past, right?
44:37In the past, you could really look at an opposition that was
44:41emerging as credible.
44:42Remember, after the Kejriwal movement, Narendra Modi came and
44:46projected himself as a prime minister of the country.
44:48JP's movement was not just, you know, it was a wider movement
44:51against the emergency.
44:52But, you know, when Narendra Modi projected, was projected as
44:55prime minister from 2002 to 2014, he had a proven track record
44:59in Gujarat.
45:00There was a Gujarat model to talk of.
45:02Sure.
45:02So, even now, even now, Rajdeep, the country, the most of the
45:06problems that we talk about, one, jobs, two, economy, there are
45:10international headwinds that the government is battling.
45:12And the same respondents are telling Yashwant and Raj Singh
45:15a power that this government is handling it effectively.
45:18The same respondents in the same survey are saying the prime minister
45:22is handling it effectively.
45:23And this is 12 years of power.
45:25This is six months.
45:26Will it change in the next six months?
45:28It remains to be seen.
45:29But when, for example, the Ram Temple thefts impacts, it in fact starts
45:32impacting credibility.
45:33One in every two.
45:34And many of them will be BJP voters.
45:36Will start asking, I think people are starting to ask questions.
45:39That's the first step.
45:41You know, Ram Manjir Chanda Chori is a disaster.
45:43But there is action taken against those who are responsible.
45:46Aapke ghar mein chori hui, aapne police ko F.I.R. darts kara ya,
45:49chor pakda gya, uske khilaf kare hui hui.
45:52Does that mean that entire Ram Temple effort is tarnished?
45:56You know, your words seem to suggest an element of complacency.
46:01That can't be the answer.
46:02I don't think so.
46:03There is no complacency.
46:04No, you're saying the numbers are saying, okay, but let me give Yashwan
46:08since he's done the poll.
46:09Yashwan, you want to give a final word?
46:11If there was one big takeaway from your poll, what is it?
46:16Well, easy thing would be to say the anti-incumbency is setting in.
46:20But that's an easy answer.
46:22That's a routine thing to say.
46:24What this data is suggesting me are two pointings.
46:28Number one, BJP needs to quickly learn what has gone wrong on their sides.
46:33Two things particularly.
46:34If you look into the things, whatever their communication strategy has been
46:39particularly driven by their IT self,
46:41which kind of influenced the debate on the WhatsApp generation
46:45and Facebook generation,
46:47it boom ranked on the Instagram generation.
46:50You know, and that is why it was,
46:52I would blame the almost 50% of this thing,
46:55their crisis at this point of time,
46:57right at their IT self,
46:59the way they handled the scenario.
47:00Second thing,
47:02the moment you leave your core vote in order to gain something else,
47:12I think more you will dig the data,
47:15more you will realize that fountainhead of their problems actually was the UGC,
47:18where they started losing the narrative of the bigger thing,
47:22including the one part.
47:23There is an immediate mid-course correction.
47:26Okay, Gaurav,
47:27you are running your most important point of Hindi heartland.
47:30You know, the Prime Minister's midnight self-message,
47:34that again sends out that message.
47:35Okay, you wanted to cut through,
47:37Yashwan, very quickly.
47:38Yeah, so basically,
47:40you will look into the,
47:41you mentioned very quickly,
47:42very correctly,
47:43that Hindi heartland is there,
47:45which,
47:45where they should be worried about,
47:47and that is where the UGC has hit them the most.
47:51They need to do a quick course correction
47:52in their communication strategy,
47:54as well as in their outreach study,
47:57what they are trying to do with their vote banks,
47:59and the way they want to take certain vote banks for granted.
48:01I think they are quick learners,
48:03we will know if they are actually learning or not within six months.
48:06Okay, we'll wait and see.
48:07Six months will be when the next tracker comes out,
48:10and remember,
48:10that will be before the Uttar Pradesh elections
48:13and the next round of elections.
48:15Clearly, this poll, in a sense,
48:17suggests the churning that's going on in Indian politics,
48:21and that always makes Indian politics fascinating.
48:24Once you start moving out of status quo as politics,
48:27to all of you,
48:28for your valuable inputs,
48:30and to Yashwan,
48:31who, remember,
48:32has to take responsibility if the numbers go wrong.
48:35I reiterate that,
48:37and to all the viewers who joined us here on Moon of the Nation,
48:40thank you very much.
48:41Stay well, stay safe.
48:42Jai Hind, Namaskar.
48:43Jai Hind, Namaskar.
48:46Thank you very much.
48:49Peace.
48:50Thank you very much.
48:55You too.
48:56You too.
49:02You too.
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