Bookies in the State Capital are putting their money on the possibility of Congress winning a majority of seats even as intelligence and survey reports insist that the ruling party in the State and the Bharatiya Janata Party are still neck and neck in the race for winning the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) elections held on Saturday.
With a day to go for counting of votes, the punters across the city are equally busy in placing the bet on major parties. Though this is not as rampant as the previous one, “We have decided to play it down and also operate area-wise due to vigilant policing,” a punter said, adding that the bets are received among the closed group.
The bookies, however, agreed to one thing: that the party which rules the BBMP will win more than 90 seats. They said the Congress appears to have gained an upper hand following the Chief Minister’s round-the-clock campaign, but the Opposition parties – BJP and JD (S) combine – will grab the power in the case the BJP succeeded in securing more than 80 seats in the 198 wards of the BBMP.
The JD (S) is expected to secure the third place with not more than 20 seats.
Supporters of candidates have been betting on goods such as electronic gadgets like mobile phones besides television sets, two-wheelers, cash and pub parties. People in parks and bus-stops too were found placing bets not only on victory and defeats but also on the margin of victory. People residing even in other city corporations of the State are also betting on the outcome of the BBMP elections, said sources .
A punter operating from Gandhi Nagar in Bengaluru said the State police had stepped up vigil on betting after the recent crackdown on cricket betting and single digit lottery in the State. However, betting was continuing among the frequent players and within closed circles, another punter said.
“With many candidates in real estate business contesting elections, betting is a big business which starts from few thousands rupees to crores of rupees”, said a small-time businessman, who regularly bets.
A senior police officer from the Central Crime Branch said: “Police are aware about betting. But it is not happening openly. However, we are gathering information and taking necessary action whenever we come across such things.”
‘With many candidates in real estate
business contesting elections, betting is a
big business which starts from a few
thousands rupees to crores of rupees’
