Modi is the popular leader

A latest survey shows roughly nine-in-10 hold a “favourable opinion” of Mr Modi, about 30 points higher than rival Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi.

The poll said he remained popular nationwide, but was most favourably viewed in western India and southern India.The results are in line with other surveys that show Mr Modi and his BJP as the most formidable force in Indian politics today.

They are also favourites to win provincial polls in Modi’s home state of Gujarat next month.

In May, Mr Modi and the BJP were the vote of choice for four-in-ten voters — which would have provided a better result than the BJP’s massive 2014 Lok Sabha majority — according to a “Mood of the Nation” poll of 11,373 people conducted by New Delhi’s Centre for the Study of Developing Societies.

Rahul is a distant second and no match for Modi .