CHANDIGARH: While BJP ’s PM candidate Narendra Modi asserts that the saffron party will form the “strongest government since Rajiv Gandhi’s government”, bookies aren’t confident of it wining a clear majority While Narendra Modi remains the favourite for the post of prime minister, they do not think the BJP would get over 272 seats, which would give it a clear majority in the Lok Sabha and an opportunity to form a government without much interference from allies. The last time a party got absolute majority was the Congress under Rajiv Gandhi in 1984.According to the bookies who work in the illegal market as betting is banned in India, somewhere close to 244 is the maximum seats that the BJP will be able to secure on its own — a number that is likely large enough for the party to form the next government with support from partners in the National Democratic Alliance. And, the punters are offering a rate of 242-244 for the BJP to form a coalition government.Any accurate bet on the BJP securing less than 242 seats or more than 244 will fetch the bettor the amount betted if his prediction comes true. For instance, if someone bets Rs 1 lakh on the BJP getting less than 242 seats, he will earn Rs 1 lakh if that turns out to be the case after the May 16 vote counting. Interestingly, bookies aren’t offering any rates on the BJP securing 272 seats.Finding little conviction in the much rumoured “160 club” of the BJP — that some BJP leaders are working to limit the party’s tally at 160 or fewer to keep Modi away from the PM’s post — bookies hold that it will comfortably cross the 180 mark. For, that the odds are 4:6 — a correct call on BJP achieving 180 seats will return just Rs 4,000 for Rs 1 lakh put on the table. On the contrary, a bet of Rs 6,000 on BJP not bagging 180 will earn Rs 1 lakh if the poll outcome matches the prediction.Last month, ET was the first to report that Modi was the bookies’ favourite to become PM. Until mid-April, betting Rs 1 lakh correctly on Modi for the PM post would have earned the bettor Rs 25,000. As the campaigning picked up, the amount reached Rs 30,000. A correct bet against Modi becoming the PM would earn Rs 1 lakh for each Rs 35,000 put in. The betting rate on Modi has now returned to Rs 25,000.For the Varanasi seat, Modi is the clear favourite. A bet of Rs 1 lakh on Modi winning from Varanasi will fetch the bettor Rs 25,000. Anybody betting Rs 30,000 on AAP’s Arvind Kejriwal or any other opponents of Modi will get Rs 1 lakh in return if the bet turns out to be accurate.Bookies are confident that Rahul Gandhi will win easily from Amethi. They have stopped accepting bets for the Amethi seat.