Who is winning Maharashtra? Check Phalodi Satta Bazar prediction ahead of exit polls

The Phalodi Satta Bazar in Rajasthan has predicted a close contest between the MVA and the Mahayuti with a slight edge to the ruling alliance. (File photo: PTI)

Voting is underway for the 288 Assembly seats in Maharashtra, a state arguably witnessing the most highly-anticipated electoral contests in the recent past. Since the last elections, Maharashtra has seen an unprecedented churning that has seen three governments, the emergence of two new parties and regional satraps being cut to size.

The stakes couldn't get much higher for the stakeholders in this battle for Maharashtra. As the nation awaits the findings of the exit polls which will emerge only after 6.30 PM, the infamous Phalodi Satta Bazar has revealed its predictions for the Maharashtra Assembly election results.

With hardly any opinion polls conducted ahead of Maharashtra, and the credibility of exit polls at stake, the predictions of the Phalodi Satta Bazar remain the sole barometer to suggest which way the wind could be blowing as the voters step out to exercise their franchise.

As per the Phalodi Satta Bazar, the Maharashtra elections could see the return of the Mahayuti government in the state, with the BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP alliance expected to win 144-152 of the 288 Assembly seats in the state, suggesting a slight edge for the ruling coalition in what could turn out to be a contest that may be too close to all, media reports said.

How are the MVA and Mahayuti stacked?

Within the Mahayuti, the BJP has fielded its candidates in 149 seats, the Shiv Sena of Eknath Shinde is in the fray in 81 seats while the Ajit Pawar-led NCP has fielded candidates in 59 constituencies. In the Maha Vikas Aghadi, the Congress is in the fray in 101 seats, Shiv Sena (UBT) has fielded 95 candidates, while the NCP(SP) has put up 86 candidates.

The campaign saw top leaders from either side of the divide criss-cross the state, with slogans like 'vote jihad', 'batenge to katenge' and 'ek hain to safe hain' featuring prominently thorugh the polls.

Phalodi Satta Bazar: What is it and how does it function?

Known as among the biggest betting centres in India, the Phalodi Satta Bazar deals in different kinds of betting. While elections are its mainstay, drawing bets worth several hundreds of crores, it also draws significant traction for placing bets on rains and cricket.

The market opens at around 11 AM every day with the rates decided one hour prior on a daily basis. The market remains operational till around 5 PM and people place bets either through the phone or physically. The winners receive their bounty through some phone wallets, TOI reported.

Betting activities prominently began here after India achieved Independence – the market earlier bet on the cotton rates going up or down. Punters or bookies, people placing the bets and two-dozen-odd people who work here form the crucial links that bind the whole operation together in a market where all bets are placed verbally.

Besides bookies, this bazaar also has its own sources of political information with people placed across major political centres. The bazaar decides rates based on the inputs it receives. From caste calculations to winnability, these sources have their ear to the ground and pass on information to the organisers.