Nandyal by-polls: Punters make high stakes on outcome

The amount of money being bet on his winning chances has steadily grown since the last few days, the punter said.
Nandyal by-polls: Punters make high stakes on outcome

KURNOOL: Candidates of the Nandyal by-election, which was held on Wednesday, are anxious about the final verdict of the polls, but more than them, there are people, who are holding their breath to know the results. These are people who have made bets on the outcome by spending a fortune. Nandyal bypolls had provided punters with an immense opportunity. “I have never seen such a huge interest in betting on the winning chances of MLA candidates at the bypoll,” said a middle-aged man in Nandyal, who made a bet on the outcome of the bypolls. 

According to the person, who wished to remain anonymous, Bhuma Brahmananda Reddy, a candidate put up by the ruling TDP is leading the pack of probable winners in the betting arena. The amount of money being bet on his winning chances has steadily grown since the last few days, the punter said.
After the high turnout at the Nandyal bypoll, the gamblers have invested huge amounts of money on the winning chances of candidates. It is not just winning chances of the candidates that were betted upon, but also the majority with which they would win. If suppose a candidate won with a majority of 5000 votes, the punter would get three times the money he bet and if the majority is 10,000, it would be 20 times. The minimum amount to be placed as bet is Rs 10,000. 

During run-up to the by-election, the contesting political parties had reportedly spent several crores and the voters were offered Rs 1,500 per vote. Now, post elections, focus has shifted to cashing on results to earn a fortune. There are several reportedly betted on results of by-election. Like any other of betting, punters were seen seeking information from different sources and even tipoffs from candidates is being taken into consideration before placing the bets.

Nandyal turns into war zone post-byelections

Nandyal: A day after polling for the Nandyal Assembly by-election, tension built up in the otherwise sleepy traders’ town with TDP activists and those of YSRC clashing on the streets. In the free-for-all that went on for more than half an hour near Suraj Grand Hotel area, activists of both the parties waged a pitched battle with each other.

TDP leader Abhiruchi Madhu’s gunman opened fire at YSRC activists even as the latter damaged his car and threw stones at them even as Madhu caught hold of a coconut knife and brandished it at his rivals. Taking cue from Madhu, the TDP  workers rained stones on YSRC workers. As it was only a day after polling, the town remained sensitive as by-poll was fought as though it was a war with both parties sparing no effort in trying to remain on top. The contest was between Bhuma family and that of Silpa family, sworn enemies in Nandyala narrative. 

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