With all eyes on the Lok Sabha election results, people of Hassan constituency are allegedly involved in heavy betting on the candidates.
Sources said that taluk centres and real estate offices in the city have become betting hubs.
Apart from the Janata Dal (Secular), Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress party workers, the betting also reportedly involves college students, teachers, taxi and autorickshaw drivers and real estate owners.
While BJP candidate C H Vijayashankar reportedly failed to attract many voters in his campaigns, people are betting on former prime minister H D Deve Gowda of the JD(S) and A Manju (Congress), both strong contenders.
Bars, restaurants and parks have become debate hubs where people can be heard discussing caste equations.
People feel that Lingayat voters, who are crucial in the electoral fortunes of parties, dumped the BJP.
The JD(S) reportedly spent highest ever amount in this election.
Money lenders and real estate owners are allegedly offering free coffee, tea and even lunch at the betting sites.
The brokers also reportedly booked hotel rooms and resorts to collect the betting money.
However, the police is yet to make any arrest in this regard.
Sheep, Holiday Packages for Bets
It has been reported that post elections, people in various segments of Chikballapur constituency have been placing bets on candidates.
The constituency saw Veerappa Moily of the Congress, H D Kumaraswamy of JD(S) and former minister B N Bache Gowda of BJP contest the election from here.
Sources said Congress, BJP and JD(S) workers are involved in betting.
Interestingly, people are putting sheep as bets. Each sheep costs between `6,000 and `8,000.
Sources also said that some of the wealthy villagers have been putting holiday packages as bets .
According to sources, if a person’s favoured candidate loses, he will have to take the winner on a holiday to places such as Yercaud and Yelagiri in Tamil Nadu, Mysore or even Nandi Hills.