Elections 98

State:	Madhya Pradesh
Constituency:	Kanker (ST)
Total Votes Polled:	608280
Winner: BJP	Sohan Potai	270121
Runner Up: INC	Mahendra Karma	215751
Margin: 54370 (20%)

Elections 96

State:	Madhya Pradesh
Constituency:	Kanker (ST)
Total Votes Polled:	579770
Winner: INC	Chhabila Arvind Netam	219191
Runner Up: BJP	Sohan Potai	194771
Margin: 24420 (4.43%)

Tribal leader Arvind Netam made his electoral debut in 1971. And given the anti-Indira sentiment sweeping across the north in 1977 he lost to the BLD the next time round. He retained the seat from 1980 to 1991, but was denied a seat in 1996 because of his alleged involvement in the hawala scam. His wife Chhabila contested instead, and won. However, from a high of 68.3 % in 1984, the Congress share of the vote dwindled to just 39.77 % in 1996. Netam has now moved to the BSP.