Shock for Murat Kurum in latest Istanbul poll: Ekrem İmamoğlu winning with votes from AKP and MHP supporters!

With only days left until the local elections on March 31, 2024, public opinion research companies have accelerated their polling efforts.

In Istanbul, one of the cities where the outcome of the critical elections is most anticipated, the race is expected to be between the CHP candidate, incumbent Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Ekrem İmamoğlu, and Murat Kurum, the candidate of the People's Alliance formed by the AKP and MHP.

The IYI Party will enter the race with Buğra Kavuncu, the Felicity Party (Saadet Partisi) with Birol Aydın, the DEM Party with Meral Danış Beştaş, the Victory Party (Zafer Partisi) with Azmi Karamahmutoğlu, the New Welfare Party (Yeniden Refah Partisi) with Mehmet Altınöz, and the Homeland Party (Memleket Partisi) with Berk Hacıgüzeller, all having decided to run independently.

Most recently, Metropoll Research published the results of its "Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayoral Race" poll.

In the survey conducted with 1,664 people between February 21-22, participants were asked, 'Which party's candidate would you vote for in the March 31, 2024 local elections for the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality?'

According to the poll results, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu ranked first with 34.7 percent. İmamoğlu was followed by Murat Kurum with 32.1 percent.

The results of the poll are as follows;

• Ekrem İmamoğlu: 34.7 percent
• Murat Kurum: 32.1 percent
• Meral Danış Beştaş: 4.9 percent
• Buğra Kavuncu: 2.5 percent
• Azmi Karamahmutoğlu: 2 percent
• Mehmet Altınöz: 1.8 percent

When undecided, non-respondent, and protest votes are proportionally distributed, the candidates' vote shares were as follows:

• Ekrem İmamoğlu: 43.5
• Murat Kurum: 40.2
• Meral Danış Beştaş: 6.1
• Buğra Kavuncu: 3.1
• Azmi Karamahmutoğlu: 2.5
• Mehmet Altınöz: 2.3
• Other: 2.3

The poll also included data on the support candidates received from party bases.

Accordingly, Ekrem İmamoğlu received support from 6.1 percent of AKP voters, 14.1 percent of MHP voters, 44.8 percent of IYI Party voters, and 31.5 percent of DEM Party voters.

It was noted that Murat Kurum, on the other hand, has the support of only 1.4 percent of CHP voters, 4.8 percent of IYI Party voters, 1.6 percent of DEM Party voters, and 67.4 percent of MHP voters.

News Source: 12punto