From Yogi to Himanta: Bharat’s Leading CMs Ranked in 2025 Survey

Paromita Das

New Delhi, 2nd September:  In a country as vast and politically diverse as Bharat, assessing the performance of state leadership is never straightforward. Yet, the latest India Today–C-Voter Mood of the Nation (MOTN) Survey 2025 provides a rare snapshot of public opinion, revealing who truly commands admiration and whose governance resonates with citizens. Conducted between July 1 and August 14, 2025, the survey covered over 2 lakh respondents, blending direct interviews with extensive tracker data to paint a comprehensive picture of leadership approval across the nation.

What stands out is the nuanced distinction between popularity and actual administrative performance. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath continues to dominate in public affection, yet when it comes to tangible governance outcomes, Assam’s Himanta Biswa Sarma has emerged as the top performer among Bharat’s large states. Meanwhile, the absence of Bihar’s Nitish Kumar and Maharashtra’s Devendra Fadnavis from the best-performing list has raised eyebrows in political circles, sparking debates about voter expectations and satisfaction.

Himanta Biswa Sarma: Assam’s Governance Benchmark

Assam’s Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma now stands at the pinnacle of performance ratings among large states. According to the survey, 44.6% of citizens in August 2025 rated his administration as satisfactory, a slight decline from February’s 55% rating, but enough to secure the top spot. Sarma’s emphasis on development projects, healthcare, and administrative efficiency appears to have struck a chord with voters who prioritize effective governance over popularity alone. His ascent underscores a growing trend: Bharatiya citizens are increasingly measuring leaders by results rather than charisma or media visibility.

Similarly, Chhattisgarh’s Vishnu Dev Sai has strengthened his position, with approval climbing from 39% in February to 42% in August, while Jharkhand’s Hemant Soren registered the most dramatic surge, rising from 31% to 42%. These figures suggest that voters are rewarding leaders who deliver concrete improvements in infrastructure, social welfare, and state administration.

The Yogi Adityanath Phenomenon: Popular but Not the Top Performer

In stark contrast, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath retains his crown as Bharat’s most popular CM, securing the support of 36% of respondents nationwide, up slightly from 35% in February. His continued dominance in the popularity chart illustrates the enduring appeal of his political persona and decisive image. However, in the best-performing CM rankings, he stands fifth, reflecting the subtle gap between public affection and governance effectiveness.

This phenomenon is mirrored in other states as well. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Andhra Pradesh’s Chandrababu Naidu maintain high popularity ratings, yet their performance rankings lag behind, emphasizing that voters increasingly distinguish between leaders they admire and leaders they perceive as delivering measurable results.

Nitish Kumar’s Surprise Absence

The most startling revelation, perhaps, is the absence of Bihar’s Nitish Kumar from the best-performing list. A figure long central to national political discourse, Kumar’s omission raises pressing questions. While he remains a popular CM, ranking fourth nationally with 4.3% support in the popularity chart, his exclusion from performance metrics suggests that Bihar’s electorate is reassessing governance outcomes. The survey hints at a growing expectation that leadership must translate experience and political presence into tangible improvements in public life.

Rising Leaders and Emerging Trends

The survey also highlights leaders whose recent performance has captured attention. Hemant Soren in Jharkhand, Vishnu Dev Sai in Chhattisgarh, and Bhupendra Patel in Gujarat have demonstrated that focused governance, transparency, and developmental initiatives are translating into public approval. These trends reflect a broader shift in Bharatiya politics: voters are increasingly attentive to delivery, accountability, and outcomes, rather than symbolic leadership or historical popularity.

Smaller states, too, tell a similar story. Sikkim’s Prem Singh Tamang leads convincingly among states with fewer than ten Lok Sabha seats, demonstrating that effective leadership resonates across Bharat’s diverse regions, irrespective of size or national visibility.

Governance Matters More Than Image

The India Today–C-Voter MOTN Survey 2025 provides a compelling insight into the evolving expectations of Bharatiya voters. While popularity remains an important metric—benefiting figures like Yogi Adityanath, Mamata Banerjee, and Chandrababu Naidu—performance now holds equal, if not greater, significance. Himanta Biswa Sarma’s rise as the best-performing CM among large states and the strong showings by Hemant Soren and Vishnu Dev Sai illustrate that citizens value measurable results and effective governance.

Nitish Kumar’s absence from the performance list serves as a cautionary tale: political longevity and recognition do not automatically translate into voter satisfaction. As Bharat’s electorate grows more discerning, the divide between popularity and performance is likely to become an increasingly critical factor in determining electoral outcomes. In 2025, the message is clear—governance effective.