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Betting markets in Vadodara, one of the two seats contested by BJP's prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi in just-concluded Lok Sabha polls, are abuzz with speculations about next chief minister of Gujarat with exit polls predicting Modi's elevation to Centre.
Though Modi is keeping his cards close to his chest on his likely successor, the name of his close confidante and incumbent Revenue Minister Anandiben Patel is in the reckoning though some quarters feel veteran BJP leader Vajubhai Vala being also in race.
"If I bet with Rs 1 lakh on Anandiben Patel and she is named as next chief minister, I will earn Rs 1.80 lakh at the rate of 80 paise per Re 1 invested," said a bookie.
Betting amount gets less with better and more desirable candidate and the highest quote implies least prospects for a person on whom bet is placed.
In descending order of chances, the Speaker of state Legislative Assembly Vajubhai Vala tops the list with bookies quoting Rs 7 to a rupee on him, which implies highly unlikely scenario.
Vala is followed by BJP leader and state energy minister Saurabh Patel at Rs 3.50 and finance minister Nitin Patel at Rs 2, a punter said.
The incumbent Revenue Minister Anandiben Patel is virtually number 2 in the Modi cabinet and reportedly enjoys confidence of the chief minister.
Simultaneously, political circles are pregnant with speculations that state higher education minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasma will emerge as a dark horse even as they reckon former RSS pracharak and current Organising Secretary of BJP's Gujarat unit, Bhikhubhai Dalsaniya in contention for CM's chair.
The punters said they are not placing any bets on Chudasama and Dalsaniya as of now and are keenly watching the unfolding of political developments in state as well as in New Delhi.
BJP sources have said that everything related to Modi's successor will be decided only after results are out on May 16.
The BJP legislature party meeting at state Secretariat in Gandhinagar yesterday was also mainly centred around how Modi has "contributed to BJP's win at Centre".
