Security personnel are sitting beside a model of an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) that is on display outside the office of the Election Commission of India in New Delhi. (Getty)
Reflecting the majority of exit poll predictions, bookies in Delhi anticipate that the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will secure over 340 seats in the Lok Sabha elections, while the opposition coalition INDIA is expected to win around 200 seats.
According to estimates from bookies and punters in Delhi, the NDA is projected to win between 341 and 343 seats, while the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) might achieve between 198 and 200 seats, as per a source within the bookie network reported to PTI.
Predictions indicate that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alone could secure between 310 and 313 seats, while the Congress party might win between 57 and 59 seats.
In Delhi, out of the seven Lok Sabha seats, the INDIA bloc is expected to win just one, according to the source.
The betting market, which opened two weeks ago, has seen wagers amounting to crores placed on the election results from participants in Delhi-NCR and abroad, the source added.
In the betting community, a person placing bets is known as a punter, while the individual determining the stakes is a bookie, who earns commissions from the betting process, explained a police official who wished to remain anonymous.
Given that betting is illegal in India, police closely monitor bookies and punters. Those caught betting (“satta”) can be prosecuted under section 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), facing potential imprisonment of up to seven years.
The odds for the NDA in the betting market are low due to its high winning probability, whereas betting on the INDIA bloc is considered “risky” and thus carries higher odds, the source noted.
While bookies predict another comfortable NDA victory with a full majority, they do not foresee the alliance surpassing 400 seats, another source mentioned. A Dubai-based bookie network also predicts a significant majority for the NDA in the elections.
The police official highlighted that many individuals place multiple bets to hedge their losses, ensuring they can recover money from different bets if one fails.
BJP leaders have expressed confidence in a sweeping victory, claiming their party could win over 400 seats, whereas the INDIA bloc has forecasted a win of 295 seats.
The final phase of the seven-phase election was held on June 1, with vote counting for the 543 Lok Sabha seats scheduled for Tuesday.
(with PTI inputs)
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