MYSURU: As the countdown has begun for counting of votes for the keenly fought Nanjangud and Gundlupet by-elections, party leaders are busy mobilising details to predict results and victory margins.
The villages that witnessed hectic political activities are still in poll mode as tea corners, community halls and junctions are abuzz with political discussions.
There are reports of betting market becoming active and many are in favour of the Congress winning both the seats.
While both Nanjangud and Gundlupet are likely to have a close call, a majority are hesitant to bet on leads as it is difficult for them to predict.
The local leaders and workers are busy working out caste combination, polling in particular castes and mood among the voters to bet for their favourite candidate.
The Congress leaders feel the election would swing in the favour of the grand old party as Dalit and Nayaka votes were considerably divided in the last couple of days. While BJP leaders are confident that they have got 60-70 per cent of dalits and 55 per cent of Nayaka community votes.
Nanjundaswamy, a voter, claimed that the caste polarisation would work in BJP candidate Srinivasa Prasad's favour.
The Congressmen claim development works, sympathy and distribution of resources would give them an edge as the Congress has got a lion's share of Ahinda votes.
Nagesh, a local Congress leader, said the united efforts of Congress leadership under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and H C Mahadevappa and development works in the last six months will help them sail through.
In Gundlupet, Congressmen are confident of victory as a majority of them have voted for Siddaramaiah's leadership and development works done by late H S Mahadeva Prasad.
The BJP leaders are confident that sympathy has worked in favour of Niranjan Kumar and voters are upset with the Congress.
Meanwhile, prominent leaders have slipped into relax mood and left for nearby resorts. While a few others are on temple tours to appease god.
Some have knocked at the doors of astrologers in Kerala, B R Hills and Chamrajanagar.
Many have vowed to offer special puja at temples and serve non-vegetarian food as prasadam to their partymen and relatives in nearby temples.