Predict results and win Rs10 lakh

Even while Mangalore is known for its fundamentalist activism, it also cherishes its role in fostering a national movement of rationalism which challenges "people with supernatural powers" including soothsayers, astrologers, witch doctors and ilk. In a fresh challenge, the Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations (FIRA) has asked the "people with extraordinary powers" to predict the results of the 2014 general elections and win a whopping Rs10 lakh. "We want the challenge to be fair. Therefore, a five per cent error in prediction will be allowed," said Narendra Nayak, national president of the FIRA.

"There was a similar offer in 2009 too, but no astrologer came even five percent near to accuracy. There were some counter challenges also but, they withdrew at the last minute proving that astrology can not predict election results," he said.

The current challenge is mulch-layered. The astrologer has to give predictions about several key constituencies. He has to tell who will be the next prime minister and which party or combination of parties will come to power. Also, number of seats which will be won by each party within an error margin of 5% should be predicted, Nayak added.

In the second section, they will have to predict the number of votes Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal, LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, Sonia Gandhi will get in their respective constituencies.
Nayak who has been fighting superstitions has been inspired by the legendary Abraham Kovoor of Sri Lanka and they both cracked together many superstitious and 'miracles' in Mangalore as early as 1976.