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ABP NEWS NIELSEN – KAUN BANEGA PRADHANMANTRI – Modi most preferred as PM
MUMBAI: NDA to bag 236 seats, BJP likely to get 217 seats in LS polls, AAP 10 and Cong 73 seats; Modi most preffered as PM: ABP News-Nielsen opinion poll
BJP likely to emerge as the single largest party with 217 seats and NDA to get 236 in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, predicts opinion poll conducted by ABP News-Nielsen. Congress to confine with 73 seats and Kejriwal’s AAP likely to get atound 10 seats in the Lok Sabha polls. NDA has gained 10 seats as compared to the opinion poll conducted in January, 2014. NDA predicted to get a vote share of 46 per cent from Western India and around 38 per cent vote share in northern India.
UPA 92
NDA 236
Left. 29
Others 186
Total 543
As per the ABP News-Nielsen opinion poll, Narendra Modi seems to be a clear choice as Prime Minister. Over 57 per cent respondents want Modi to be PM. Rahul Gandhi scores over Kejriwal with 18 per cent. Only 3 per cent respondents have voted for Arvind Kejriwal as prime minister.
Narendra Modi 57%
Rahul Gandhi 18%
Arvind Kejriwal 3%
As per the opinion poll, the so-called federal front is predicted to beat the UPA with around 186 seats.
AIADMK 19
AITC 29
BJD 16
BSP 13
CPM 18
CPI 7
DMK 13
JDU 9
According to the ABP News-Nielsen opinion poll, Inflation emerges as the issue which affects people the most in their day to day life with 46% respondents saying so. According to 34 per cent respondents corruption is the biggest problem and 18 per cent feel unemployment is a major problem.
Price rise./inflation 46%
Corruption. 34%
Unemployment. 18%
As per the opinion poll, BJP likely to get around 80 seats in north India. NDA to get around 88 seats of the 151-seat north India. AAP likely to get 9 seats and Congress 17 seats. UPA predicted to get 23 seats.
UPA. 23
NDA. 88
Left. 0
Others 40
Total 151
As per the ABP News-Nielsen opinion poll, NDA likely to get 88 seats in western India. BJP alone to get 79 seats. Congress likely to get 15 seats and AAP to get only one seat in the 116- seat western India.
UPA. 22
NDA. 88
Left. 0
Others 6
Total 116
According to the ABP News-Nielsen opinion poll, UPA to lead marginally over NDA with 26 seats in southern India. Congress to get 23, BJP likely to get 20 seats in South.
UPA. 26
NDA. 21
Left. 15
Others 72
Total 134
As per the ABP News-Nielsen opinion poll, NDA to lead with 39 seats, BJP likely to get 38 seats. Congress predicted to get around 18 seats in Eastern India.
UPA. 21
NDA. 39
Left. 14
Others 68
Total 142
The opinion poll was conducted by ABP News- Nielsen in 129 constituencies with 29,252 respondents during 4th February to 15th February 2014.
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Induction cooktop demand spikes 30× amid LPG supply concerns
Supply worries linked to West Asia tensions push households and restaurants to turn to electric cooking alternatives
MUMBAI: As geopolitical tensions in West Asia ripple through global energy supply chains, the familiar blue flame in Indian kitchens is facing an unexpected challenger: electricity.
What began as concerns over the availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has quickly evolved into a technology-driven shift in cooking habits. Households across India are increasingly turning to induction cooktops and other electric appliances, initially as a backup but now, for many, a necessity.
A sudden surge in demand
Recent data from quick-commerce and grocery platform BigBasket highlights the scale of the shift. According to Seshu Kumar Tirumala, the company’s chief buying and merchandising officer, demand for induction cooktops has risen dramatically.
“Induction cooktops have seen a significant surge in demand, recording a fivefold jump on 10 March and a thirtyfold spike on 11 March,” Tirumala said.
The increase stands out sharply when compared with broader kitchen appliance trends. Most appliance categories are growing within 10 per cent of their typical demand levels, while induction cooktops have witnessed explosive growth as households rush to secure an alternative cooking option.
Major e-commerce platforms including Amazon and Flipkart have reported rising searches and orders for induction stoves. Quick-commerce apps such as Blinkit and Zepto have also witnessed stock shortages in major metropolitan areas including Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
What was once considered a convenient appliance for hostels, small kitchens or occasional use has suddenly become an essential addition in many homes.
A crisis thousands of miles away
The trigger for this shift lies far beyond India’s kitchens.
Escalating conflict in the Middle East has disrupted shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. Nearly 85 to 90 per cent of India’s LPG imports pass through this narrow waterway, making the country particularly vulnerable to supply disruptions.
The ripple effects have been swift.
India currently meets roughly 60 per cent of its LPG demand through imports, and tightening global supply has already begun to affect domestic availability and prices.
Earlier this month, the price of domestic LPG cylinders increased by Rs 60, while commercial cylinders rose by more than Rs 114.
To discourage panic buying and hoarding, the government has also extended the mandatory waiting period between domestic refill bookings from 21 days to 25 days.
Restaurants feel the pressure
The strain is not limited to households. Restaurants, hotels and roadside eateries are also grappling with supply constraints as commercial LPG availability tightens under restrictions imposed through the Essential Commodities Act.
In cities such as Bengaluru and Chennai, restaurant associations report that commercial LPG availability has dropped by as much as 75 per cent, forcing many establishments to rethink their kitchen operations.
Some restaurants have reduced menu offerings, while others are rapidly installing high-efficiency induction systems, creating hybrid kitchens where electricity now shares the workload with gas.
For smaller eateries and roadside dhabas, the shift is less about sustainability and more about survival.
A potential structural shift
The government has maintained that there is no nationwide LPG crisis and has directed refineries to increase production to stabilise supply.
Nevertheless, the developments of March 2026 may already be triggering a longer-term behavioural shift.
For decades, LPG has been the backbone of cooking in Indian households. However, recent disruptions have highlighted the risks of relying on a single fuel source.
Increasingly, households appear to be hedging against uncertainty by adopting electric cooking options to guard against price volatility and delivery delays.
If the current trend continues, the induction cooktop, once viewed as a niche appliance, could emerge as a quiet symbol of India’s evolving kitchen economy.
