Khammam: Election heat has punters sweating

Khammam: “No matter any situation, there is no exception for betting lovers”. 

This is the new adage of the present times. Whether it is cock-fight, playing cards, cricket or election, people are used to enjoying  betting in these sectors. 
Now, the elections have turned out to be a big playground for them. As the nomination of the candidates were finalised, punters started betting on the electioneering prospects. 

This practice is more prevalent in Aswaraopet, Sattupalli, Madhira, Khammam and  Palair. Personal loyalities to parties are playing a big role in the betting. 
A person loyal to the ruling party, Telugu Desam or Congress will offer a huge amount if his party candidate is defeated in the particular segment. 
In Sattupalli, many of them showed interest in the victory of the TD candidate. 

In Aswaraopet, the figures for betting have changed as compared to fifteen days ago after Mecha Nageswara Rao, TD candidate, filed his nomination. Lachaiah Dora, a farmer, said that the betting was Rs 1 against Rs 3 at present. It means that the person who offered Rs 1 for a TRS win would be  paid Rs 3 lakh if the ruling party candidate won. The other person who bets in favour of of TD will get Rs 1 lakh only if the TD candidate succeeded. In Sattupalli too, such betting is being witnessed after the campaign started. 

The comparison of mannerisms and attitudes of the TD candidate, Sandra Venkata Veeraiah and the TRS candidate, Pidamarthi Ravi, is a big topic there. It is reflected in the betting too. 

The betting in Sattupalli is going on at a ratio of 1:3. The person who bets for a Sandra win will get Rs 1 lakh in case the TD wins and the other person who predicts a TRS win will gain Rs 3 lakh if the TRS candidate wins. Such agreements are  seen in Madhira, Khammam and Palair. But the betting game is not  being played in a professional manner and is more a pact between friends and relatives.