Opposition | Still on a plateau

Download App The drop in PM Modi's ratings has not translated into a corresponding boost for the Congress and the Opposition. The anti-incumbency space seems more open(Photo: PTI) The Opposition in India has far more political room today than it did six months ago. What is not clear is who will benefit from the drop in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ratings. In the August 2026 edition of the india today Mood of the Nation (MOTN) survey, Modi’s score on the preferred-prime-minister question saw an almost six-point dive, from 54.7 per cent in January to 48.7 per cent now. Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, however, has barely moved, from 26.6 per cent to 27.1 per cent. The gap between them has narrowed, but largely because Modi has lost support. For the Congress, this is the uncomfortable part of the MOTN findings.