Corruption Issue to Resonate Among Indians In The Elections: U.S. Poll

WASHINGTON: Today, corruption is seen as a widespread problem by a majority of Indians of all generations that they don't think the current government is doing enough to combat, according to a new U.S. poll, which says the issue will "resonate" in these elections.

Contending political parties' promises of tackling the country's graft "likely resonate with Indian voters, including the estimated 150 million young people who will be casting a ballot for the first time," according to Gallup, a leading U.S. public opinion organization.

Three-fourths of Indian adults aged 18 to 34 said in 2013 that corruption is widespread in their government, nearly identical to the percentages of similarly minded adults aged 35 to 54 (76 percent) and 55 or older (72 percent), it said.

Voters in the North may be somewhat more receptive to anti-corruption messages than those in the South, Gallup said noting nearly nine in 10 Indians in the North believe corruption is widespread in their government, compared with 65 percent in the South. However, as recently as 2012, 82 percent in the South saw government corruption as pervasive, suggesting the issue is likely not far from their minds.

A slim majority of Indians (51 percent) do not believe the current government is doing enough to fight corruption, which could cost the governing Congress party some votes, Gallup said. This includes 54 percent of 18 to 34-year-olds, who have the potential to be a potent political force because of their numbers.

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