Punters root for Congress in BMC elections

The BMC election has bookies in a flurry of activity offering astronomical odds to inspire punters, with Rs300 crore already being placed in bets on Saturday when the odds were announced. A bookie, on condition of anonymity, told DNA: “We expect a clear victory for Congress which may secure 70 to 77 seats while the NCP may get 17-22 seats.

The Sena may win 50-55 seats while the BJP is expected to win 25-30 seats.” The rationale behind the bookies rooting for Congress is based on the impact of the July 2005 deluge. Narayan Rane’s exit from the Sena is a boost for Congress chances, a bookie said.

“Similarly, the fact that Raj Thackeray floated MNS is an added indicator of the Sena rule in BMC coming to an end,” he said. Those punters placing a rupee in bet for on Congress are being offered a return of 80 paise on their investment.

Bets placed on the BJP and the Sena would secure a return of Rs 1.10 per rupee while those willing to wage on the MNS will get Rs 50 for every rupee bet.

A similar bet on the third front will net Rs 75 for the punter. Some bookies say no clear majority will be available for either the Congress-NCP alliance or even the Sena-BJP alliance in the polls and anticipate a role for the MNS or the third front in stablising the ruling dispensation that comes to power.