Futures trading

Time was when we waited patiently for the results after the last person had stamped his/her ballot paper with the inverted swastika and dropped it into the big box. Then we waited for all those little bits of paper to be duly counted. Today everything is crunched — time and numbers — in order to arrive at a plausible picture of possible performance; so that we know how we have voted before we have actually voted.

This is all thanks to that funny tribe of quasi-scientists who get paid big-bucks to conclude whether it is Advantage BJP, or Advantage Congress; whether it is Narendra Modi that has the definite edge or whether Shankarsinh Vaghela could yet come in from the cold. They take in the P-factor and the G-factor, and measure precise levels of polarisation, not to speak of Godhra-isation.

They cough up a great deal of gobbledegook and speak of swings for and against. For those who have the stomach for it, these are exciting pursuits. But dangerous, too. Because every swing could pack a counter-swing and a distinct punch at the old reputation.

Psephologists, as we know, come in all shapes and sizes, including as the homespun, not-so-natty satta operator. These bookies are believed to have their finger on the pulse of the people and are ever willing to put their money where their mouth is. Currently, this lot has thrown their fortunes with the BJP and have, in their collective wisdom, decided that the possibility of a saffron government in Gandhinagar is more likely.

Therefore, they offer you only 48-50 paise if the BJP were to get 90 seats, and Rs 2.50 if the Congress were to achieve that feat. Whether money talks sense is difficult to say. But watch this space anyway.