Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) founder C Joseph Vijay has emerged as India’s third-most preferred choice for Prime Minister, according to the latest India Today-CVoter Mood of the Nation survey.
The August 2026 survey places Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the top with 48.7% support, followed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at 27.1%. Vijay secured 9.2%, putting him in third place and ahead of several established national political leaders.
Vijay ranked ahead of Mamata Banerjee at 2%, Akhilesh Yadav at 1.7% and Arvind Kejriwal at 1.2% in the preferred Prime Minister rankings. His performance is notable given that he entered active politics only in 2024 and has rapidly expanded his political profile beyond Tamil Nadu.
The survey also showed Vijay gaining prominence as a possible national Opposition figure. When respondents were asked which current Opposition leader was best suited to lead the Opposition alliance, Rahul Gandhi ranked first with 29% support, while Vijay came second with 12.2%. Mamata Banerjee received 8.5%, Arvind Kejriwal 7.5% and Akhilesh Yadav 6.9%.
The findings have triggered fresh discussion about Vijay’s national political potential and whether his growing popularity could eventually translate into a larger role ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. India Today’s subsequent analysis also highlighted his appeal among younger voters and reported that he was gaining traction outside Tamil Nadu, including in parts of the Northeast.
The August 2026 Mood of the Nation survey was conducted by CVoter, with 25,184 respondents directly surveyed between July 1 and August 25. Findings also incorporated data from another 91,795 interviews conducted through CVoter’s regular tracking during the preceding six months.
While opinion polls represent voter sentiment at a particular point in time rather than an election forecast, Vijay’s third-place position marks a significant development in India’s evolving national political landscape.
source – India Today-CVoter Mood of the Nation
Supreme News Network
