With the polling concluded, bookies are busy conducting betting. While TRS continues to be a favourite for the punters in Andhra Pradesh, their Telangana counterparts are putting their bets on both TRS and the Prajakutami on an equal measure.
Former MP Lagadapati Rajagopal might have placed his bets on the Prajakutami, but punters in both the Telugu States still consider Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao as their favourite.
With the polling concluded on Friday, bookies are busy conducting betting. While TRS continues to be a favourite for the punters in Andhra Pradesh, their Telangana counterparts are putting their bets on both TRS and the Prajakutami on an equal measure, besides victory margin of individual candidates.
In betting, the value of a hot favourite is less and the bookies are terming K Chandrashekhar Rao as the top runner for the Chief Minister’s post. Punters in Coastal Andhra are participating in ‘Kosu Pandem’ where winners will get 80 paise if KCR comes to power and Re 1.20 if the Prajakutami emerges victorious. “The odds have changed ever since Lagadapati Rajagopal presented his survey report. Earlier, both TRS and the Prajakutami had equal chances. But now the punters are placing their bets heavily on KCR and TRS,” said V Nagaraju, a businessman from Eluru in West Godavari district.
In case of regular bettings, a bet of Re 1 on KCR returning as the Chief Minister, will get Re 1 in return. For those who are favouring him not becoming the Chief Minister, a bet of Re 1 will get Rs 1.75 in return. The betting amount ranges from Rs 10,000 to Rs 25 lakh, while a few have gone to the extent of pledging their property documents in some cases.
Interestingly, the punters are putting their bets on the majority with which Chandrashekhar Rao, K T Rama Rao, T Harish Rao, Talasani Srinivas Yadav, D K Aruna, Komatireddy brothers, A Revanth Reddy, G Kishan Reddy and other such popular leaders as they are confident about these leaders winning the elections. High stakes are also being placed on the winning of TDP candidate Nandamuri Suhasini, daughter of late Nandamuri Harikrishna.
However, the punters in Telangana are expecting a tough fight between the ruling TRS and the Congress-led Prajakutami. Besides cash ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 10 lakh, the punters found novel ways and are betting for holiday tour packages, liquor parties and even pub parties.
“I entered into betting with my friend on TRS forming government second time the bet amount was Rs 1 lakh and eagerly waiting for the December 11 results,” said a punter from Ibrahimpatnam Assembly constituency on the condition of anonymity, adding that he expressed confidence that without any doubts TRS will form government as he feels that the welfare schemes launched by the party will ensure a stupendous victory.
Similarly party-wise and candidate–wise betting are also high in many districts and constituencies. “These two days, we are fully engaged in betting and took part in 6-8 betting groups,” punters from Nalgonda districts said, adding that the bet was ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000. The betting was high on a few high voltage Assembly constituencies such as Kodangal, Kodada, Huzurnagar, Nagarjunasagar, Madhira, Karimnagar, Kukatpally, Kalwakurthy, Suryapet, Warangal(East), Bhupalapally, Khammam, Maheswaram and Serilingampally.
Interestingly the punters, besides keeping money as betting, are also offering tickets for foreign trips to places such as Thailand, Singapore and Dubai. “We kept money with the mediators. If we lose the bet, the mediator will book tickets for our opponent and if we win, he has to book tickets as per our wish,” said a punter from Kukatpally constituency.
There was also friendly betting between two sides, the two parties have agreed to have party after the elections but the bill has to be paid by the losers. “I am confident that Prajakutami will form the government, but my friends are confident of TRS. Let us wait for Tuesday. After announcement of results, we will have a party in a five star hotel in Hyderabad,” said a software engineer from Hyderabad.
Refering to the fake surveys in circulation, TRS MP B Vinod Kumar appealed to the people of Telangana not to indulge much in betting activity and lose their money. The TRS is going to retain power , he asserted. #KhabarLive
