Elections 98

State:	Bihar
Constituency:	Ranchi
Total Votes Polled:	696139
Winner: BJP	Ramtahal Choudhary	398022
Runner Up: INC	Keshav Mahto Kamlesh	254442
Margin: 143580 (36%)

Elections 96

State:	Bihar
Constituency:	Ranchi
Total Votes Polled:	611980
Winner: BJP	Ram Tahal Choudhary	215278
Runner Up: INC	Keshwa Mahto Kamlesh	175986
Margin: 39292 (6.56%)

In 1957 the MP was a certain Minoo R Masani. The BJP's Ram Tahal Choudhary served notice in 1984 itself, emerging second despite the Rajiv wave. After remaining runner-up in 1989, he won the seat in 1991 and retained it in 1996. Ranchi was one of the few seats where the Congress polled more votes than the Janata Dal in 1996.