Hapur (Uttar Pradesh):
The ‘satta markets’ of Hapur, Lucknow, and, Delhi are predicting the return of the BJP to power in Uttar Pradesh, but with a curtailed majority of 220 seats.
The bookies who run the satta bazaar had predicted 230 seats to the BJP in the key state in January, but noted that each phase – the state went in for a seven-phased election, the figure will change. Now ahead of the last round of voting on March 7 and counting on March 10 is round the corner, they are giving 220 seats in the 403-member state Assembly, or a loss of 80 seats, to the saffron party in their last trends.
“Farmers have played a crucial role to divide the votes, otherwise the BJP will get more seats. In the last phase the situation has turned again… our calculation is saying that the BJP is getting 220 seats,” said a bookie who did not want to be named.
Since the last 21 years, no party has returned to power in the state, and if bookies’ prediction comes true, then the BJP will create a new trend. The bookies said that they had predicted that after early losses, the BJP would emerge winner with a majority.
They said that the Samajwadi Party will emerge as the major opposition party with 135 to 140 seats. In the early trends of the elections, they had given it 130 seats.
“There is an increase in the number of Samajwadi Party. They are getting 10 extra seats,” said the bookie.
Bookies are offering 100 for 100 for both the BJP and Samajwadi Party.
The Congress and Aam Aadmi Party do not figure in the calculations of the bookies, Â both these parties are “merely mute spectators” in the UP Assembly elections.
However, they are giving 15 seats to the Bahujan Samaj Party.
The satta bazaar is taking the help of professionals and paid services to run their operations, and are catering only to trusted customers, to save themselves from the police.
Bookies, who run the satta market, have also predicted the people of Punjab may see a new party in power after years, as they give 65 seats to the Aam Aadmi Party in the 117-member Assembly. There are no bids for other parties.
They are predicting that BJP is bagging 34 seats in Uttarakhand as well, a couple of seats short of a majority in the 70-member house.
People of Punjab may have a new ruling party after the Congress or Akali Dal, whereas after Uttar Pradesh – where they gave it 220 seats in the 403-member Assembly, the BJP will be able to retain power in Uttarakhand.
“We are predicting 65 seats to the AAP in Punjab. We have not given option of other parties here. In Punjab, satta is only on the AAP and no one else. If our calculations are correct, the AAP might reach upto 70 seats,” said a bookie, who did not want to be identified.
He said in Punjab, the BJP – which is contesting in alliance between the new party of Captain Amarinder Singh and an Akali Dal faction – was nowhere to be seen like last time, when it was with the Akali Dal. The Congress will bag seats but only to secure its position in the opposition.
About Uttarakhand, the bookie said that the saffron party was creating its magic with 34 seats as per their calculation.
“In Uttarakhand, it is only the BJP. We are not opening a book for the AAP and the Congress,” he said.
He said that like the UP Assembly elections, they were offering Rs 100 for Rs 100 only. “The local satta guys might be taking different prices for each assembly seat, like Rs 10 for Re 1, but at state level rate is Re 1 for Re 1,” said the bookie.
They said that they had given option to change the price/party till March 5, and now were waiting for the results on March 1. Â (IANS)