Rationalists challenge astrologers to predict results

While the Lok Sabha polls are a test for the country’s politicians, the Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations (FIRA) has come up with a test for astrologers to see if they can indeed predict results accurately. Responding to a challenge by FIRA, over 120 astrologers from across India have entered a contest to predict some poll results. The prize money for any astrologer who accurately answers 20 questions is Rs 10 lakh.

Astrologers from Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Meghalaya, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, New Delhi, West Bengal and one even from Singapore have sent sealed envelopes containing their predictions to the FIRA. “Only 88 contestants are in the fray now since replies from the others reached us after the May 12 deadline. We did not want them to use data from the exit polls,” FIRA president Narendra Nayak said.

Astrologers arrived at their predictions using methods like face reading, horoscope interpretation, numerology, name analysis, pendulums and oil reading. “Some of them claim to have been assisted by supernatural powers,” Nayak said.

The 20 predictions include name of the next PM, seat sharing by the newly-formed coalition, number of seats that will be won by the BJP, Congress, TMC, BSP, SP, AIADMK, DMK, JD(S), JD(U) and CPM, the votes obtained by Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal, L K Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Sonia Gandhi, etc. The contest gives scope for a five per cent margin of error.