Why ‘Satta Bazaars’ Are Under the Radar of Police and ECI During the Ongoing Lok Sabha Elections

New Delhi: As the 2024 Lok Sabha elections draw near their end, the country’s ‘satta bazaars’ are abuzz with ‘predictions’. The satta bazaars, or betting markets, are well-known for their electoral forecasts, often providing an unconventional yet intriguing lens into the political landscape. According to the latest data from several prominent satta bazaars, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) appears to be facing a challenging road ahead according to these satta bazaars, despite widespread belief of an easy victory.

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Market Predictions

The predictions from various satta bazaars indicate a mixed sentiment about the major political players:

– Phalodi Satta Bazaar: BJP – 209, NDA – 253, Congress – 117, INDIA – 246
– Palanpur Satta Bazaar: BJP – 216, NDA – 247, Congress – 112, INDIA – 225
– Karnal Satta Bazaar: BJP – 235, NDA – 263, Congress – 108, INDIA – 231
– Bohri Satta Bazaar: BJP – 227, NDA – 255, Congress – 115, INDIA – 212
– Belgaum Satta Bazaar: BJP – 223, NDA – 265, Congress – 120, INDIA – 230
– Kolkata Satta Bazaar: BJP – 218, NDA – 261, Congress – 128, INDIA – 228
– Vijayawada Satta Bazaar: BJP – 224, NDA – 251, Congress – 121, INDIA – 237
– Indore Sarafa: BJP – 260, NDA – 283, Congress – 94, INDIA – 180
– Ahmedabad Chowk Bazaar: BJP – 241, NDA – 270, Congress – 104, INDIA – 193
– Surat Madhobi: BJP – 247, NDA – 282, Congress – 96, INDIA – 186

These figures suggest a worrying trend for the BJP and its allies (NDA) are projected to perform reasonably well, though short of majority, yet the ‘INDIA’ alliance also shows significant strength. The Congress party, on the other hand, seems to be at least doubling it’s last tally of 52 in most predictions.

Betting and gambling, including electoral betting, are governed by various laws in India. The Public Gambling Act of 1867 prohibits running or being in charge of a public gambling house. he legal landscape around betting is complex, with states having the authority to formulate their own laws. For instance, Goa, Sikkim, and Daman have legalized certain forms of gambling, including casinos. Meanwhile, the rest of the country operates under stringent anti-gambling laws.

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The satta bazaars are currently on the police radar due to their potential influence on elections. Authorities are concerned that these betting markets might affect voter behavior and the overall integrity of the electoral process. There have also been calls for the Election Commission to take cognizance of this serious issue as it is violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).