The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : After polls it's betting time

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 30, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

After polls it's betting time

By R. Jagadeeswara Rao

RAJAHMUNDRY, APRIL 29. People in these parts are going on a betting spree on the outcome of the recently-concluded elections to the Assembly and the Lok Sabha.

The outcome, which is safely locked in EVMs and kept in highly guarded strong rooms, could prove to be a financial disaster to some, specially in the prosperous Konaseema area.

The amount involved ran into several lakhs of rupees. The betting is not confined to the activists of political parties who worked hard during the election and had a fair idea of who would win and who would lose.

Right from cricket matches, there are people who would indulge in betting on every possible game, including the game of politics. The only aim is to make a quick buck by gambling, in the present context, on the results of elections.

The betting is not confined to who would win or who would lose. The betting is also on the issues like who would stand second? Who would lose deposit? And what is the majority a particular candidate would get?

Depending on the confidence level of a person about the result, the offer is very challenging and tempting. The offer is 100:70 and in some cases it is 100:50 or just the double.

Says a member of a club here: "This (betting) is same as betting on cricket matches sans the possibility of fixing."

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