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Punters bet heavily on KMC poll outcome
Kakinada Municipal Corporation (KMC) elections, which concluded on Tuesday, are all set to be tallied and announced on Friday. Much before the EVMs are opened for counting, huge betting is going on in Kakinada with lakhs of rupees at stake.
Kakinada: Kakinada Municipal Corporation (KMC) elections, which concluded on Tuesday, are all set to be tallied and announced on Friday. Much before the EVMs are opened for counting, huge betting is going on in Kakinada with lakhs of rupees at stake.
The recently-held elections for KMC not only show the powers vested with Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) but, also boost hopes for the winning party for the upcoming 2019 general elections. The leaders of both the sides are analysing the polling patterns and caste-wise votes to assess their strengths and lapses in every division.
Highlights:
- Fight between TDP and YSRCP saw gamblers putting lakhs of rupees at stake in some very crucial divisions
- Stakes are as high as `30 to `50 lakh exclusively for the 30th division
Post polling, people’s interests are centred around how to make moolah by guessing the winning candidate. This has become a nice pastime among them. The fight between TDP and YSRCP in KMC polls attracted huge punters who put lakhs of rupees on stake in some very crucial divisions.
The 30th Division where YSRCP candidate Ragireddi Chandrakala Deepthi is contesting has attracted much attention. Chandrakala Deepthi is the wife of Ragireddi Kumar who was a former corporator and a leader in YSRCP. Kumar is a staunch follower of former MLA and YSRCP city coordinator Dwrampudi Bhaskara Reddy. The division is crucial for YSRCP because if Deepthi manages to win from this division, then she becomes the forerunner for Mayor’s race from YSRCP.
TDP candidate Badam Bala Krishna, who is a social worker, eye bank creator and former lion’s club president, is also contesting from the same division. According to sources, the bets are placed as high as Rs 30 to Rs 50 lakh exclusively for this division.
Electronic display boards were established to display the round wise results of all the 48 divisions. The police enforced Section 30 of Police Act in and around the venue. District Collector Mishra overlooked all the arrangements and took precautions for the counting phase to pass off peacefully.
The KMC went for its first elections in 2005, after it was declared a Corporation in 2004. The tenure of the then civic body officials came to an end in the year 2010 after which KMC was administered by special officers. Since 2010, the corporation never faced elections until recently.
The TDP is confident of winning 30 to 35 divisions, while the YSRCP alleged that limitless flow of money, liquor and abuse of power by the ruling party will not affect their win in KMC polls. All the Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) from 196 polling booths are sealed and stored in Rangaraya Medical College where the counting will take place amidst secured arrangements.
Electronic display boards were established to display the round wise results of all the 48 divisions. The police enforced Section 30 of Police Act in and around the venue. District Collector Mishra overlooked all the arrangements and took precautions for the counting phase to pass off peacefully.
The KMC went for its first elections in 2005, after it was declared a Corporation in 2004. The tenure of the then civic body officials came to an end in the year 2010 after which KMC was administered by special officers. Since 2010, the corporation never faced elections until recently.
