Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje's popularity has taken a sharp knock according to the findings of the first edition of India Today's Political Stock Exchange (PSE), with almost 50 per cent of the respondents indicating that they are dissatisfied with the performance of the Vasundhara government in the state.

The PSE is a new-gen innovation in election analysis, and is India's first ever weekly tracker of the country's political pulse.



The PSE results bring some relief to Vasundhara's counterparts in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, where both Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Raman Singh remain the popular choices to lead their states for yet another term.



The PSE showcases data collected through telephonic interviews by Axis My India, India's most successful polling agency.

RAJASTHAN

According to the survey of the three poll-bound states, as many as 48 per cent of the respondents want a change of guard in Rajasthan, with only 32 per cent expressing satisfaction with the incumbent Raje government.



The India Today Axis My India poll was based on telephone interviews across every parliamentary constituency of the state with a sample size of 9,850.



According to the survey, some 15 per cent of respondents rated the performance of the Raje administration as "average".



In the study, 35 per cent of respondents wanted Congress general secretary Ashok Gehlot to be CM. State party president Sachin Pilot, on the other hand, won 11 per cent of approvals for the post.



Asked about their preferred choice for the next PM, most respondents -- 57 per cent -- voted for Narendra Modi. Thirty-five per cent supported Congress chief Rahul Gandhi.



Among the major issues facing Rajasthan, drainage and cleanliness topped voter concerns, followed by agricultural problems, unemployment, price rise and drinking water.



In 2013, the BJP won 163 of the state assembly's 200 seats, with the Congress trailing at 21.



MADHYA PRADESH



According to the India Today Axis My India PSE report, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan emerged as the favourite of 46 per cent of voters. Thirty-two per cent supported the Congress party's Jyotiraditya Scindia as the next chief minister of the state.



Scindia's popularity is well ahead of that of Kamal Nath, who found favour with only 8 per cent of the respondents. The Scindia scion's popularity presents a major headache for Congress President Rahul Gandhi, who has pitched Nath as the man who will lead the Congress' battle strategy in Madhya Pradesh.

While the party has not officially declared a chief ministerial face, Nath is widely seen as leading the internal race to be CM even though the PSE poll shows that Scindia's popularity is four times that of Kamal Nath's.

On the performance index though, the incumbent state administration was found to be hanging precariously to voter satisfaction. The poll found 41 per cent expressing satisfaction and 40 per cent seeking a change in government because of its performance.



The Madhya Pradesh survey, with a sample size of 12,035, indicated that 47 per cent of voters considered unemployment to be a major issue, followed by agricultural problems, drinking water, sanitation and price rise.



As many as 56 per cent of respondents voted in favour of another term in office for PM Modi, followed by 36 per cent supporting Rahul Gandhi for the top job.



In 2013, the BJP retained power in Madhya Pradesh, winning 165 of the 230 assembly seats. The Congress secured 58 constituencies back then.



CHHATTISGARH



The Chhattisgarh PSE report showed 41 per cent of respondents favouring incumbent Raman Singh as the next CM. Twenty-one per cent supported state Congress president Bhupesh Baghel.



Around 39 per cent expressed satisfaction with the Singh administration's performance, while 34 per cent voted for a change.



Drainage, sanitation and unemployment emerged as major issues in the elections due this year, followed by agricultural problems and price rise, the poll showed. The sample size was 4,598.



As many as 59 per cent of respondents want Prime Minister Modi to be given another term, while 34 per cent want Rahul Gandhi to be the next PM.

In 2013, the BJP won 49 of the state's 90 assembly seats, and the Congress, 39.

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