General polls 2024: Companies seek surveys and data to firm up investment decisions and biz strategies

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

From crystal gazing the current government and understanding the fate of those in the states headed for polls to what the future holds for the newly formed opposition alliance and understanding how Indians across different sections cast their ballot, the C-suite executives of India Inc desire to know it all, pollsters and poll pandits said.

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While some are seeking specific poll/electorate-related data, many CEOs are in regular contact with poll experts to discover which way the wind is blowing because this will impact their investment decisions and business strategies. “Electoral data is like a new fuel for corporates, fund houses and startups,” said Bhawesh Jha, psephologist and cofounder of CNX, a firm that does electoral surveys and makes election strategy for political parties.

There is a big spike in demand from corporates across industries and startups, many of whom want surveys or are looking for data and feedback on who will win, who would be the next prime minister, what is the sentiment towards the alliances, what are people thinking about the economy, and so on, Jha said.

He said there is a big demand from new-age companies in fintech and gaming to know which party is coming to power as their policies will impact the future of their businesses. The depth of data demanded by a company or a fund house depends on their individual budget, he added.

Fund managers and brokers are also keen to get “tips” to draw their