Bookies betting big on BJP in UP, U'khand, Goa; see AAP win in Punjab
Darpan News Desk IANS, 09 Mar, 2022 05:19 PM
New Delhi, March 9 (IANS) Ahead of the announcement of results of the assembly elections in five states, the bookies who run the satta bazar have put the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the driver's seat in three states -- Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Goa, while they have considered only the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as a formidable contender in Punjab, with no party coming close to it.
While the bookies are betting on the basis of per seat in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, in Goa and Uttarakhand, they are betting on forming the government.
In Punjab, they are giving the AAP 40 paise against a rupee, predicting a possible AAP government in the state.
The bookies have put the Congress in second position, while the Akali Dal has been placed third. The BJP appears nowhere in the bookies' calculation.
"We are talking about 40 paise for the AAP government, Rs 3.50 for the ruling Congress and Rs 25 for the BJP. It is based on our calculations," said a bookie on the condition of anonymity.
As per their calculation, the AAP gets 55 paise for 50 seats and 80 paise for 52 seats. The Congress is being paid 40 paise for 30 seats and Re 1 for 32 seats.
In other words, the AAP is likely to get a maximum of 50 seats and the Congress 30 seats. The Akali Dal gets 50 paise for 12 seats and 75 paise for 13 seats.
"A new wave have entered Punjab. Farmers are supporting the AAP. It was ahead of all others since the beginning. This did not change anywhere," said a bookie.
According to the bookies, the BJP may form the government in Goa and Uttarakhand.
The bookies said in these states, they were not betting on seats but on whether a government is formed or not.
"The BJP is ahead of others in both the states.The cost of forming a BJP government in Goa is 66 paise. The price of the Congress is Rs 1.60 and Rs 10 for an AAP government. In Uttarakhand, we are giving BJP 80 paise and the Congress Rs 1.20 for forming the government," said a bookie.
In Uttar Pradesh, they are betting on seats. Here too, the BJP is ahead of others while the Samajwadi Party is trailing the saffron party.
"The price is Rs 1.20 for 245 seats for the BJP and Rs 1.60 for 135 seats for the SP. These are the final prices which won't change," said a bookie.
The satta bazar prices are showing that the BJP is quite strong in three states while it's only the AAP in Punjab.
Among the dignitaries present on the occasion were Vice President N. Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. This year, the list of Padma awards consists of seven Padma Vibhushans, 10 Padma Bhushan, and 102 Padma Shri.
The problems in the Punjab Congress seem to be far from over as the Channi government is being constantly cornered by its own state party chief Navjot Singh Sidhu and the top leadership has failed to evolve a consensus among the warring factions.
The arrested man has been identified as Yudhvir Singh of Jandiala Guru in Amritsar. He was a proclaimed offender and wanted in various NDPS cases. The police also recovered a high-end car from the accused.
In a major decision to regularise the services of nearly 36,000 employees ahead of the Assembly elections, the Punjab Cabinet on Tuesday approved the Punjab Protection and Regularisation of Contractual Employees Bill, 2021 to be introduced in the forthcoming Vidhan Sabha session for enactment.
The Punjab Cabinet on Tuesday accepted the resignation of Advocate General A.P.S. Deol -- a decision that is seen in political circles as lessening the "friction" between Chief Minister Charanjit Channi and Congress state chief Navjot Sidhu.
To curb air pollution emitting from open fires in the national capital, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Tuesday announced to launch an anti-open burning campaign under which 550 teams from various departments will be deployed in the city to keep a check on burning in open spaces.
