Reuters India has decided to do a weekly poll every Tuesday. "The poll does not aim to be scientific but to give readers a snapshot of how some of the leading India analysts are thinking" and is based on the views of AMULYA GANGULI, MAHESH RANGARAJAN, PHANI SEKHAR, T.K. BHAUMIK, ALASTAIR NEWTON, RUPA REGE NITSURE, PRAN CHOPRA, D.H. PAI PANANDIKAR, Dr N. BHASKARA RAO, SUDHA PAI, SEEMA DESAI, VINOD MEHTA, V. ANANTHA NAGESWARAN, YASHWANT DESHMUKH:
The following are the results of their replies. Reuters will repeat this survey on a weekly basis each Tuesday.
HOW MANY SEATS DO YOU THINK CONGRESS AND THE BJP WILL WIN?
CONGRESS Average 144 - Median 143
BJP Average 130 - Median 130
(There are 543 elected seats in parliament)
2) ASSIGN PERCENTAGES TO THE FOLLOWING SCENARIOS:
a) A UPA-led government with communist support
Average 32 pct Median 30 pct
b) A UPA-led government without communist support
Average 27 pct Median 28 pct
c) An NDA-led government
Average 23 pct Median 25 pct
d) A Third Front-led coalition
Average 18 pct Median10 pct
3) Who will be the next Prime Minister of India?
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh - 12 choices
Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee -- 1
Mayawati (Uttar Pradesh state leader - 1
L.K. Advani (BJP leader) - 0
Full Story: Reuters poll sees Congress coalition leading in election