Elections 98

State:	Madhya Pradesh
Constituency:	Balaghat
Total Votes Polled:	605480
Winner: BJP	Gaurishankar Chaturbhuj Bisen	240066
Runner Up: INC	Vishaveshar Bhagat	214535
Margin: 25531 (11%)

Elections 96

State:	Madhya Pradesh
Constituency:	Balaghat
Total Votes Polled:	568630
Winner: INC	Vishveshwar Bhagat	171569
Runner Up: BJP	Gaurishankar Chaturbhuj Bisen	170312
Margin: 1257 (0.23%)

Veteran Congressman C D Gautam's constituency, till he was routed in 1977. After that, the electorate has tried out various political formations, and even voted an Independent in in 1989. In 1991 and 1996, the Congress's Vishveshwar Bhagat defeated the BJP's G Chaturbhuj.