Chavan, Bhujbal not best bets

On the sidelines of the Rs 100 crore riding on the Assembly poll results, the betting circuit is buzzing with bids on whether CM Ashok Chavan and Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal will be able to retain their posts.
The rate for Chavan continuing as CM is 60 paise.

This is despite the fact that the Cong-ress-NCP combine is expected to win. This points to uncertainty, as candidates who are sure shot winners have very nominal amounts pegged on them.

Bookies suspect Chavan may face stiff competition from stalwarts within the partyu00a0- Narayan Rane
(Rs 3.50), Vilasrao Deshmukh (Rs 1.10), Sushilkumar Shinde (Rs 2.50), Patangrao Kadam (Rs 3) and Shivajirao Nilengekar (Rs 4).

Though these politicians were pegged at higher rates than Chavan yesterday, bookies expect them to catch up after the poll results are out today. "These senior politicians have been making regular trips to New Delhi to meet senior Congress politicians in the past few days," elaborated one bookie.

For deputy CM
Bhugbal, who is pegged at 82 paise, is worse off than Chavan. In fact, his party colleague Jayant Patil, pegged at a low 30 paise, has far better odds of bagging the post, according to bookies. Bhujbal is also expected to face stiff competition from Dilip-Walse Patil (Rs 2.25), and Ajit Pawar (Rs 1.10).u00a0

Sources in the betting circle revealed that NCP supremo Sharad Pawar's penchant for nominating fresh party candidates for the post of deputy CM has also lowered Bhujbal's chances. "A clear pattern has emerged in the past few years. It appears that the party believes in regular change," said RG, a bookie.

Meanwhile, bookies say the Congress-NCP will win 125-135 seats. The betting rate for the ruling alliance is 20 paise. The Sena-BJP combine is expected to bag 100 seats and their going rate is Rs 3.50, which shows that the bookies don't bet on them winning the polls.

Sure wins
R R Patil's win is almost certain, as bookies have pegged 3 paise on his win.
Vilasrao Deshmukh's son Amit's win is also considered a given. Bookies have pegged his price at 30 paise.