Punters mainly NRIs hailing from Telugu-speaking States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and people settled in other parts of India are betting big on the outcome of general elections held in AP on May 13 based on various calculations, pre and post-poll predictions.

High stakes are involved as the guessing game is on who will be the next Chief Minister and whether Visakhapatnam or Amaravati will become the capital of Andhra Pradesh.

Informed sources say a lot of unaccounted money is changing hands through underground channels on winning probability of individual candidates segment-wise with Pithapuram in Kakinada district drawing unprecedented attention as Jana Sena founder and film star Pawan Kalyan locking horns with YSRCP’s Vanga Geeta. Interestingly, a lot of NRIs mainly based in the United States are betting big on the winning chances of Naidu after batting for continuation of Amaravati as the single capital of Andhra Pradesh. On the other hand, a large number of supporters of Jagan are also investing a lot chances of Visakhapatnam becoming the seat of power after June 4.

“I heard a lot about Phalodi Satta Bazaar in Rajasthan. Now I find from my friends that after IPL matches and cockfights in Bhimavaram, Mandapeta and other areas of Andhra Pradesh during Sankranti, the simultaneous elections to Assembly and Lok Sabha in the State have attracted a lot of attention from the punters. Expecting to make a fast buck, many are putting big money in betting based on their calculations. It’s more or less like Phalodi Satta Bazaar-type of syndrome is being witnessed across the State,” an NRI based in California, told Bizz Buzz.

Betting is being made on the winning prospects as well as margin of some of the key contestants. Based on their calculations, money is being put on the winning horses notwithstanding the fact no big racket has been busted yet as the operations are being conducted clandestinely with utmost care.

The outcome of elections in Pulivendula represented by Jagan Mohan Reddy and Kuppam represented by Chandrababu Naidu have attracted the attention of the punters.

Betting is being done in most segments in the Kapu belt in the Godavari districts where it is speculated that the NDA due to the following of Pawan Kalyan and appeal by his brother megastar Chiranjeevi is expected to fare well.

Big money is put on the winning chances of Botcha Satyanarayana in Chipurupalle in Vizianagaram district, his wife Botcha Jhansi for Lok Sabha in Visakhapatnam against TDP’s M Sri Bharat, son-in-law of actor Nandamuri Balakrishna, BJP’s Lok Sabha candidates Daggubati Purundeswari in Rajahmundry, former Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy in Rajampet have also become the talking point in the betting circles.

Former Union Minister YS Sujana Chowdhary, who is contesting for MLA and CM Ramesh for Lok Sabha from Anakapalle have also drawn the attention of many punters.