Elections 98

State:	Karnataka
Constituency:	Bellary
Total Votes Polled:	738610
Winner: INC	K C Kondaiah	284909
Runner Up: LS	N Thippanna	221171
Margin: 63738 (22%)

Elections 96

State:	Karnataka
Constituency:	Bellary
Total Votes Polled:	642633
Winner: INC	K C Kondaiah	273584
Runner Up: JD	N Thippanna	269065
Margin: 4519 (0.72%)

Without a break, including 1996, this constituency has remained steadfast in its loyalty to the Congress. In the last election, however, there was a dip in the Congress vote to 43.89 %, and its victory over the Janata Dal candidate was by a slim 4,000 votes.