Karnataka Gram Panchayat polls: Huge stakes on results as betting soars

Davangere: With the fate of candidates contesting the GP polls sealed after voting on June 2, betting is happening on a large scale on the results which will be announced on Friday. Candidates are worried about their political future as they have spent a lot of money on these polls.

According to a source, the betting turnout is said to be over Rs 1 crore in the district. This apart, some supporters of candidates are learnt to have placed bet on their sheep, buffalos and vehicles.

In Anaji village in Davangere taluk, a man has bet Rs 3 lakh in favour of his father-in-law who contested the GP polls. Even the police can’t control betting in villages as no one informs them. Betting is less in some taluks like Harapanahalli and Jagalur which are drought prone areas. In other taluks, even candidates who are confident of winning the poll have placed bets.

Similar is the situation in Chitradurga district too. As the district is prone to drought, the betting amount is less but the practice is rampant across the district. The police have failed to crack down on it as it is going on in all villages, said a constable on the condition of anonymity.