Challenging the ages old tradition of the prophecy and the predictions, a city based Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samittee has challenged all the astrologers in the state to predict the just concluded assembly polls. This challenge is to prove whether the astrology is a science or not. But the astrologers have got perplexed as either of the two groups couldn’t arrive at a harmony on result parameters for the contest.

The ANS, an organization devoted to wipe out the superstitions, had challenged the astrologers to predict the outcome of the assembly polls.  If any of the astrologers achieve the target, he/she will be paid a cash prize of Rs 21 lakh. The deadline for entries was 12 Oct, but it was extended till 21 Oct.

Narendra Dabholkar, the supporter of the contest, says that

Till date 42 entries have been received with participants coming from Solapur, Nashik, Pune, Sangli, Satara and Ahmednagar. But none of them could give accurate prediction and fulfill all the criteria. Only two people came close but they were not able to give the exact voting margins. Wednesday 21 Oct is the last day to receive entries, but considering the response so far, we are not hopeful of any concrete claims.

Briefing over the rules of the contest, Dabholkar said the participants are required to make 21 predictions related to candidates along with their parties. Each participant would be asked to select 11 candidates and make predictions about the outcome in the result.

We want to prove that astrology is not a science. Any individual or organization associated with astrology can take up this challenge. The prediction should be based on some logical formula. We will check that formula by implementing it with some other candidates,

he said.

Participants will also have to foretell the number of seats each party will get. “Even if 80 per cent of the predictions were right, the claimant will get full prize money,” said Dabholkar.

When asked about the challenge to another city-based astrologer, Nandakishor Jakatdar he said the organizers have used tools which are vague to their point of view.

The organizer’ claim that astrology has no meaning. The horoscopes are not scientific, but they are using horoscope as the parameter for the competition,

he said.