Election betting in full swing across coastal AP

Visakhapatnam: Election betting is taking place in coastal Andhra Pradesh as the punters have already put huge money on bigwigs in both ruling TDP and the opposition YSRC . The punters allegedly placed bets on Jana Sena and BJP too in a different way.

Coastal AP that comprises nine districts would wager around Rs 1,000 crore before the poll, while another Rs 1,000 crore would be placed just a few days before the announcement of results, according to sources in the betting market.

The stakes are high in Guntur, Prakasam, both Godavari districts, Krishna and Visakhapatnam. Be it cock fights, cricket matches or elections , betting is widespread in coastal AP where hundreds of industrialists, land lords and businessmen stay.

“Betting has become a favourite past time for wealthy people in this region. We are expecting around Rs 1,500 crore this time with the competition between two major parties TDP and YSRC. Most of the punters lost huge money three months ago during the Telangana elections. Otherwise, the betting money would touch Rs 2,500 crore in the present election scenario across the state,” one of the bookies, MM Raju said.

The hot favourites are Pavan Kalyan, YS Jagan, Nara Lokesh and Balakrishna for Assembly segments and also Gudiwada segment where Devineni Avinash (TDP) and Kodali Nani (YSRCP) are crossing swords.

Punters are wagering huge amounts on Visakha LS, Guntur, Vijayawada, Narsapuram and Kadapa.

“It is a cash business. Majority of punters placed bets on Pavan’s victory at Gajuwaka and his possible defeat at Bhimavaram. Likewise, majority of YSRCP chief Jagan in Pulivendula and Nara Lokesh at Mangalagiri and also majority of Balakrishna,” one of the punters K Rangayya Naidu of Amalapuram region said.

Another punter said they would wait for a few more days to go for higher stakes on parties. Visakhapatnam LS has become a favourite for many punters as four important persons are contesting. TDP candidate got Rs 1.50 paise for Rs. one while the Rs. 2 on YSRC candidate and it is Rs. 2.50 for former IPS officer VV Lakshminarayana. Interestingly, many punters placed on percentage of votes for BJP candidate Purandeswari. Around Rs 40 crore was already placed on the Vizag LS in the betting circuit, sources said.

The betting amount was high in Narasapuram LS in West Godavari where the businessman Raghurama Raju of YSRCP is crossing swords with V Venkata Sivarama Raju of TDP and also Janasena’s Nagababu, the brother of Pavan Kalyan. The stakes are high here that Rs. 1.50 for Raghuramaraju and Rs. 2.50 for Sivarama Raju while it was Rs. 4 for Nagababu’s winning chances.

The stakes are Rs. 2.50 for Maganti Roopa of TDP in Rajahmundry LS while it was Rs. 1.50 for her opponent. The betting amount was already crossed Rs. 50 crore on Vijayawada Lok Sabha seat where Kesineni Nani of TDP and Potluri Vara Prasad of YSRC are crossing swords. Heavy betting is also on over how many assembly seats YSRC would win and how many parliament seats, sources said.