Like in the previous three decades, noted rationalist Prof Narendra Nayak got to keep his award money of Rs 10 lakh (one million) with the predictions from astrologers nowhere near the poll outcome.
“Two astrologers, believed to be the same person, succeeded in getting the highest score of seven,” said Prof Nayak, who is also the president of Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations. Weeks ago, Prof Nayak had challenged astrologers to accurately predict the results of 17th Lok Sabha elections.
Prof Nayak had also promised a cash reward of one million to astrologers making accurate predictions to 20 questions like which party will come to power, number of votes polled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, AICC Chief Rahul Gandhi among others.
“The answers in ranges were not acceptable. The answer should be a single figure with a plus or minus five per cent error-margin,” he said and added that questions were designed statistically to prevent non-astrologers from getting the right answers with the help of sheer guess work. Nearly, 59 entries were submitted before the deadline and 20 were submitted after the deadline fixed on May 22.
“The predictions of the 20 entries are of academical interest and will be read in leisure,” Prof Nayak said. Of the total 59 entries, more than 25 astrologers got a zero for their predictions. An owner of a temple had enclosed a letter along with the predictions advising Modi on how to create a crore new jobs in Tamil language.
“One of the entries to the number of votes that a candidate could poll had the figure of 700,000 for Rahul Gandhi and his number of votes polled were 706,000 less than 1 per cent off the mark,” Prof Nayak said and recollected that many astrologers from Kerala had sought details of the candidates.
“I had replied that they should check the details from the website of the Election Commission of India,” Prof Nayak said.