Mandya: Even though the poll fever has ended in K.R. Pet Assembly segment of Mandya district, betting fever has gripped the Constituency post the polls. K.R. Pet is among the 15 Assembly segments of the State which went to the by-polls on Dec.5. The Assembly Constituency saw a huge turnout with over 80 per cent of the electorate exercising their franchise.

With just a day left for the counting of votes, betting fever has gripped political enthusiasts, not only in K.R. Pet taluk but across the district as well. While the people in towns and Mandya city are putting money as their bet, people in rural areas have been keeping their chicken, sheep, goat, cattle, tractors and other vehicles at stake. Most of the bettings are placed by the followers of candidates. Betting is mostly on BJP candidate K.C. Narayanagowda and JD(S) candidate B.L. Devaraj, as most of the people feel that it is a 50-50 chance of victory for both of them. However, there are a few takers for Congress candidate K.B. Chandrashekhar, who is also a former MLA. The betting is in the range of Rs. 50,000 on Narayanagowda and Rs.1 lakh on Devaraj. 

Betting is more rampant in K.R. Pet town, Kikkeri, Sheelanere, Bookanakere, the native village of CM B.S. Yediyurappa and Sindhughatta, than in other parts of the Constituency.

Meanwhile, the Police, acting on the betting speculations, are making attempts to trace the bookies. But the bettors, wary of the Police, have been operating in a clandestine manner, thus hoodwinking the Police, it is said.