Election betting is rampant in Andhra Pradesh: Will police be able to crack down?

Political observers say the close race between TDP and YSRCP has significantly raised betting stakes in the state.
Election betting is rampant in Andhra Pradesh: Will police be able to crack down?
Election betting is rampant in Andhra Pradesh: Will police be able to crack down?
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Vote counting is set to take place on May 23 and in the wake of Andhra Pradesh’s simultaneous polls for state Assembly and Lok Sabha elections earlier this month, a massive betting market is thriving in the state.

Major bets are reportedly being placed on a YSRCP victory, with its leader YS Jagan Mohan securing the post of Chief Minister. But TDP leader and incumbent Minister Prathipati Pulla Rao has dismissed claims of a YSRCP win and urged caution.

"Don't indulge in betting, as many later kill themselves due to the debt and in turn leave their families on the streets,” he said. He also added, “My suggestion to those indulging in betting; don't get carried away by the hype that YSRCP is creating and place bets."

But it isn’t just the battle for Chief Minister that has captured the betting market. Wages are being placed on the number of constituency seats each party will bag as well as fights involving prominent candidates. Observers say that lakhs of rupees have been thrown into election bets throughout the state, and people from all walks of live, including politicians, are involved.

Bets are also being placed on the share of seats that may be secured by Pawan Kalyan of the Jana Sena Party, as well as the potential victory of Nara Lokesh, the incumbent IT minister of TDP who made electoral debut from Mangalagiri against YSRCP's Alla Rama Krishna Reddy. There is also massive punting around the majority that both Jagan and Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu can pull from their respective constituencies.

According to senior police officials, the election betting system is relatively similar to the way bets are placed in cricket. There is also a possibility of the same punters being involved in both areas of betting.

Gambling is punishable offence under AP Gambling Act 1974. Unlike cricket betting, where the turnout ranges from about Rs 10 to 15 lakh for each match, in political betting, the exact turnout amount is unclear.

Andhra Pradesh has become notorious for the heavy flow of illicit cash during elections. The Election Commission of India has seized Rs 114.18 crore so far.

Police attempt to crack down

While police are on the look out for cases of election betting, cracking down on offenders has been a harder task. Authorities say that most betting gangs will include habitual offenders, who will move from sport to politics depending on the season.

Nandigama DySP Subash Chandra Bose told TNM, "The punters will change their betting fields from season to season (from sports like cricket and kabaddi to elections). We will bind them over in old cases."

Another police official said, “As of now, we have taken preventive action against the accused in old betting cases, but we are yet to bust an election betting case so far.”

Krishna District Police have clamped down on the accused in old betting cases in Nandigama and Kanchikacharla, while Kurnool Police have arrested a five-member gang allegedly indulging in cricket betting. A police official of the ACP rank from Vishakapatanam however said that no such activity has come to their notice.

Since high-stakes betting typically takes place in closed circles, police say there is a challenge involved in gathering evidence against rampant gamblers.

The high-profile fight between the TDP and YSRCP has significantly raised the stakes in these elections as political analysts expect a close finish in the race. "Followers of both parties have their own reasons, ranging from populism to anti-incumbency to place their wages in political bets," said Prudhvi Vegesna, independent journalist and political observer.

N Vijay Kumar, TDP spokesperson alleged that the Election Commission's lack of foresightedness has resulted in unlawful activities like betting. "There is a 45-day gap between elections and announcement of the results. They should understand the ground reality. This gap gives scope to all sorts of impediments to democracy."

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