Hunsur: With just a day left for the counting of votes, all the candidates who had contested the Hunsur by-poll are in a relaxed mood. The battle in Hunsur is largely between the BJP, Congress and JD(S). After campaigning hard in the run up to the Dec.5 by-poll, the candidates of the three major parties are also seeking the divine blessings at the last minute to win in the ‘people’s Court.’

BJP candidate and former Minister A.H. Vishwanath left Hunsur on Friday, the day after the by-poll to Shirdi in Maharashtra to offer prayers at the famed Sai Baba Temple. After praying at Shirdi, Vishwanath reportedly left for Mantralayam in Andhra Pradesh on Saturday. He is expected to return to Hunsur before the counting commences at 8 am tomorrow (Dec.9).

Congress candidate H.P. Manjunath, who is also a former MLA, left Hunsur for Dharmasthala on Friday. After visiting Dharmasthala, Manjunath offered prayers at Ullal Dargah near Mangaluru before proceeding to Mumbai, where he is scheduled to attend a function. He is expected to return to Hunsur either tonight or early tomorrow morning, according to sources.

JD(S) candidate Devaralli Somasekhar did not leave for any pilgrimage centre right after the polls and is believed to have offered prayers at local temples. However, Somashekar is said to have offered special prayers to his family deity at Byatarayaswamy Temple in Turuvekere taluk of Tumakuru district on Saturday.

Meanwhile the betting fever has not gripped Hunsur Assembly segment like the one in K.R. Pet. However, a few supporters have reportedly put their money at stake in favour of their  favourite candidates. However, speculations are doing the rounds that most of the people are putting their bets on BJP and Congress candidates, while there are a few takers for JD(S) candidate. While the stake money ranges any where between Rs.50,000 and Rs.1 lakh, one farmer in Hanagodu Hobli of Hunsur taluk, has pledged his one acre land in favour of BJP candidate, it is said. The candidates have started making their own calculations based on caste-wise and booth-wise polling after receiving inputs from their poll agents.