Video Editor: Mohd Ibrahim, Abhishek Sharma
“The assumption is that the Congress will form the government here. Even I believe that the Congress will form the government, but they won’t win as many seats as they are claiming they will.” These are not predictions of any political expert or any psephologist but of a local satta player at Rajasthan’s Phalodi – the biggest satta bazaar in the country.
Whose value will increase? Who will have the last laugh? Will the lotus bloom or will the Congress register a win? The Quint reached Rajasthan’s Phalodi to understand the mood of the satta bazaar.
We met a satta player, who explained to us which party is expected to win the Rajasthan elections, on which party the maximum bets are being placed, what is the rate of each party and how the satta bazaar functions in general.
The satta player told us that in the 200-seat Rajasthan Assembly, the Congress is expected to win 123 to 125 seats, while the BJP may get 57 to 59 seats. He also told us that the rate is 23-25 paisa for the Congress and that of the BJP is close to Rs 3. He said the party whose rate is lower has a higher chance of forming the government.
Which Party Are People Placing Most Bets On?
When we asked another satta player, he said, “the Congress can form the government. Even if they win in 90 seats, they can form the government. For example, if Congress wins in 90 seats, Independent candidates and other parties can form an alliance with the Congress and form the government. But they will not get the predicted 123-125 seats.”
Is the Mood Changing in Satta Bazaar?
When asked if Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rallies or any other senior leader's rallies make any difference, another satta player told The Quint, “it doesn't make a huge difference but it can change the mood of the public slightly.”
Will the satta bazaar’s predictions come true? Or will the people’s mandate change it all? These are questions that will only be answered on 11 December.