The traditional cockfights, a centuries-old custom in coastal Andhra, continue unabated despite claims by state police of strict measures to prevent them.
During Jagan Mohan Reddy's five-year regime, cockfights and related activities like gambling and casinos persisted, albeit on a smaller scale.
This was partly due to the government's crackdown on affluent Kamma and Kshatriya landlords in Krishna, East, and West Godavari districts. However, in areas dominated by the YSRCP, cockfights occurred with police support, though not on a grand scale.
Now, with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led NDA government in power, reports suggest that cockfights and gambling have reached unprecedented levels, especially in the former East and West Godavari districts.
Despite police claims of using drones and AI technology to monitor activities, massive arrangements—including large tents, arenas, and parking lots near highways—indicate otherwise.
Videos and images widely circulated on social media reveal grand setups, including gambling counters, cash distribution points, and extensive food stalls.
Prominent politicians, such as Deputy Speaker K Raghu Ramakrishna Raju and senior TDP leader Ganta Srinivas Rao, were seen participating in cockfights at Peda Amiram village in West Godavari.
Several other public representatives attended inaugural events in Krishna, NTR, Eluru, and East and West Godavari districts.
Over Bhogi and Sankranti, cockfights generated an estimated Rs 20 lakh per arena, with gambling and betting activities across districts totaling between Rs 50 crore and Rs 100 crore.
VIP passes and prizes, such as bullet bikes, were awarded to winners in some areas. In Ambedkar Konaseema district, betting in VIP arenas reportedly reached Rs 60 crore to Rs 120 crore. Transactions worth nearly Rs 300 crore are said to have occurred in West Godavari alone.
In the NTR district’s Ibrahimpatnam, large-scale gambling events resembling casinos were organized by the Hyderabad-based RR Group, complete with bouncers for security.
Police reportedly turned a blind eye, with allegations of bribes facilitating these activities.
Under the guise of tradition, these cockfights have become hubs for freewheeling gambling, card games, and liquor sales, highlighting the state's inability—or unwillingness—to curb these practices.
