Bookies peg BJP's Maharashtra score at 161

The Bharatiya Janata Party has not only emerged as top performer in exit polls and various surveys, the betting world too is sure of the party’s good show. In fact, punters have gone a step ahead and given the party complete majority. They are putting money, claiming that the saffron party will win 161 seats and form the government on its own. The BJP is evoking a return of 40 paise on every rupee.

“Even though majority of the bookies stopped taking bets after the polling on Wednesday, there are a few fringe players who are still accepting bets before the results on Sunday,” said a source.

According to the bookies, the BJP is the clear favourite and is expected to win 161 seats. “It means that if you bet one rupee on BJP winning 161 seats and if the party gets exactly that many numbers, you will Rs1.40 in return,” the source said.

In the bookie world, the Shiv Sena has been pegged to win 49 seats and the betting rate on it is 55 paise, indicating that the regional party is the second favourite. 

The Congress is likely to get 36 seats and is evoking a return of 95 paise, while anyone putting one rupee on NCP, which is expected to win in 32 constituencies, will get Rs2.10 in return, said sources. According to the bookies, MNS is expected to win 5 seats.

Punter meter
Party expected seats wager (for every Re1)
BJP 161 40 paise
Congress 36 95 paise
NCP 32 110 paise
Sena 49 55 paise