Nellore: YSRC leaders are in an upbeat mood after most exit polls coming out in their favour in the region. Sources in the YSR Congress said that betting was in the ratio of 1:1 before the polls and their leaders have been offering two times more (1:2) to whatever amount punters are ready to bet after the exit polls from Sunday.
However, patronage for the offer is not encouraging because TD men are doubtful over a victory with several organisations giving the edge to the YSR Congress.
Before the exit polls, YSRC men were challenging TD leaders to betting on seats identified as tight in Nellore district. Nellore city and Sarveypalli and Atmakur Assembly seats as well as the Nellore Lok Sabha seat have witnessed fierce battles between TD and YSR Congress nominees.
Urban development minister P. Narayana has been contesting against sitting YSR Congress legislator Dr Anilkumar Yadav in Nellore city while agriculture minister Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy is pitted against his arch rival and sitting YSRC legislator Kakani Govardhan Reddy at Sarveypalli.
In the case of Atmakur, sitting YSRC legislator Mekapati Gautham Reddy has locked horns with former legislator Bollineni Krishnaiah of the TD. With respect to Nellore Lok Sabha, former minister Adala Prabhakar Reddy is in the field as the YSRC nominee against Beeda Masthan Rao.
In fact, TD leaders have been banking on these seats notwithstanding the tight fight on the plea that women and pensioners have voted in favour of the TD. Notwithstanding TD hopes, the YSRC is offering 1:1 to whatever TD leaders are ready to gamble.
A YSRC functionary said that betting was quite high in favour of TD Nellore Lok Sabha seat nominee Beeda Masthan Rao in the past but the scenario has changed after the exit polls are out. Betting activity is in full swing in lodges and even in the Children’s Park at Nellore. Those involved in the activity have been taking steps to prevent leakage of information. They are keeping the betting money with middlemen and offering 2 to 5 per cent commission of the betting amount.
