Kejriwal tops non-UPA, non-NDA PM probable; Modi is still middle class 'messiah': Survey

February 16, 2014

New Delhi, Feb 16: BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi continues to be the top choice for Prime Minister, according to an India Today Group/CVoter survey of the Indian Middle Class with 52.1 per cent preferring him. Aam Aadmi party leader Arvind Kejriwal came second at 15.8 per cent and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi third at 11.5 per cent.

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Asked about Modi's key attributes, the middle class ranked development (29.4 per cent) above Hindu nationalism (26.1 per cent).

Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal continues to be the favourite for PM from the non-UPA, non-NDA lot with 25.7 per cent support. Mayawati, surprisingly, came in second with 8.2 per cent and Mulayam Singh Yadav third at 5 per cent.

The middle class, however, thought Rahul Gandhi was the best bet in the Congress for PM. Rahul got 41.1 per cent, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh got 13.3 per cent. While they may crib about the Gandhi dynasty monopoly in the Congress, 51.8 per cent of the middle class was sure the party cannot do without the family.

Though Manmohan Singh got a measly 2.2 per cent for top choice for PM, almost 61 per cent of respondents said Singh is an honest person despite the coal scam besmirching the economist-PM's image.

But there was no respite for the UPA 2 which continued to be slammed by the middle class for price rise and corruption. The respondents said price rise at 37 per cent and corruption at 36.6 per cent were the hallmarks of the government that has ruled since 2009. The UPA's mismanagement of the economy was also noted to be the second biggest reason for the slowing down of the India growth story at 25.1 per cent, corruption was the first reason at 34.3 per cent.

While 58.2 per cent of the middle class said it was 'not at all satisfied' with Manmohan Singh, 52.5 per cent said it was very much satisfied with Modi. Even Rahul Gandhi got a dismal rating with 47.3 per cent saying they were not at all satisfied.

Corruption was the most troubling issue for the middle class. Among those polled, 40.4 per cent said bribes affected them the most, followed by rising prices at 18 per cent and unemployment at 11.7 per cent. The survey found the middle class least interested in hostility between India and its neighbours and Naxalism, which was said to be India's biggest internal security threat by PM Manmohan Singh a few years ago.

But Naxals were the third biggest threat to India at 21.4 per cent after cross-border terror (34.3 per cent) and religious fundamentalism (26.8 per cent).

With 50 per cent of the respondents saying AAP will replicate their Delhi success in the Lok Sabha, the middle class is divided since an equal number say it can't.

The India Today/CVoter survey was conducted between January 3 and 30 across all states interviewing 17,463 randomly selected middle income group respondents across all demographics. The respondents were divided into lower middle class, middle and upper.

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News Network
December 4,2025

Udupi: A 40-year-old NRI from Udupi has reportedly lost more than Rs 12.25 lakh in an online investment scam operated through Telegram.

According to a complaint filed at the CEN police station, Leo Jerome Mendonsa, who has been working in Dubai for the past 15 years in computer accessories sales, maintains NRI accounts in Karkala and Nitte.

On November 12, 2025, Mendonsa was added to a Telegram group called Instaflow Earnings by unknown individuals. Users identified as Priya and Dipannita persuaded him to invest in “Revenue Tasks.” Initially, Mendonsa transferred Rs 1,100 multiple times and received the promised returns, encouraging him to continue.

On November 14, another user, Nishmitha Shetty, directed him to register on a website, digitvisionuoce.cc, and invest Rs 4 lakh in various shares. Over the next few days, he made multiple transfers totaling Rs 12,25,000, including Rs 50,000 via Google Pay, believing the scheme was legitimate.

After receiving the money, the alleged handlers stopped responding, and neither the invested amount nor the promised profits were returned.

The CEN police have registered a case under Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the IT Act and Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and investigations are ongoing.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Air India Express has announced that it will resume direct flight services between Mangaluru and Muscat from March 2026, restoring an important international air link for passengers from the coastal region.

Airport authorities said the service will operate twice a week—on Sundays and Tuesdays—from March 1. The initial flights are scheduled on March 3, 8 and 10, followed by March 15 and 17, with the same operating pattern to continue thereafter. The flight duration is approximately three hours and 25 minutes.

The Mangaluru–Muscat route was earlier operated under the 2025 summer schedule, with services beginning on July 14. At that time, Air India Express had operated four flights a week before suspending the service.

Officials said the summer schedule will come into effect from March 29, after which changes in flight timings and departure schedules from Mangaluru are expected. Passengers have been advised to check the latest schedules while planning their travel.

The resumption of direct flights to Muscat is expected to significantly benefit expatriates, business travellers and others, further strengthening Mangaluru’s air connectivity with the Gulf region.

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News Network
December 2,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 2: Mangaluru International Airport responded to a medical emergency late on Monday night. Air India Express flight IX 522, travelling from Riyadh to Thiruvananthapuram, was diverted to Mangaluru Airport after a passenger in his late 30s experienced a medical emergency on board.

The Airport’s Operations Control Centre received an alert regarding the passenger’s health condition. The airport activated its emergency response protocol, mobilising the airport medical team and coordinating with stakeholders including CISF, immigration, and customs. 

Upon landing, airport medical personnel attended to the passenger, assessed his condition, and arranged to shift him to a local tertiary-care hospital for further treatment. The passenger’s relatives accompanied the passenger, who incidentally received necessary medical care on board, which helped stabilise the situation.

Following the handling of the emergency, the flight departed for Thiruvananthapuram at 2:05 am on Tuesday.

"We appreciate the cooperation of all parties involved, and this incident reaffirms our ongoing commitment to prioritising passenger safety and readiness to respond to unforeseen emergencies with professionalism and care," the Airport spokesperson said. 

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