Kakinada: A day before the counting of votes, Pithapuram has been witnessing a heavy betting with many punters putting their money in favour of Jana Sena chief and the film star Pawan Kalyan, according to sources here on Monday.
However after the announcement of exit polls, the punters had shifted their focus on the majority that the Jana Sena chief is likely to get. And according to sources, the Jana Sena caders had invited even the opposition members for betting on the likely majority of Pawan Kalyan. If Pawan Kalyan wins within a 40,000 votes majority, Jana Sena cadres are ready to give their rivals twice of their betting amount.
Many of the Telugu Desam and Jana Sena cadres and also Pawan Kalyan fans are expecting the actor to win by more than 80,000 majority. According to sources, Pawan Kalyan favourites had bet to the tune of Rs. 20 lakh to Rs.40 lakh against the YSRC candidate.
Meanwhile, in Rajanagaram constituency, it is said that one YSRC leader had put Rs.4 crore in favour of their party candidate Jakkampudi Raja. It has become a hot topic in East Godavari district now.
In many constituencies in the state, betting has been going on in a big way. But after the exit polls, many of the ruling party fans had given up on betting. In Undi constituency, it is said that the punters had kept their money with the reputed persons in their village or constituency.
According to sources, after the exit polls one of the mediators had called both the parties and gave the option of withdrawing their betting amounts, if they wish to do so. Both the parties, had accepted the proposal. It is learnt that the ruling party favourites had taken back their amounts.
However, in many constituencies in Godavari districts the punters are putting their money on who would be the next chief minister of the state: Is it present Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy or the former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu? However, the people the sources are not keen to reveal the details.