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ISSUES '98
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State:	Maharashtra
Constituency:	Akola
Total Votes Polled:	647675
Winner: BJP	Phundkar Pandurang Pundlik	221094
Runner Up: RPI	Ambedkar Prakash Yeshwant	212041
Margin: 9053 (1.42%)

Even in 1977 when the north was swept by the Janata wave, this constituency remained faithful to the Congress, its MP being none other than Vasant Sathe. Madhusudan Vairale -- actress Kiran's pa -- was the last Congressman to win from this seat, his two-time stint as MP ending in 1989 when the constituency elected Pandurang Pundalik of the BJP. In 1996 he was elected for the third consecutive time, and he defeated B R Ambedkar's grandson, Prakash of the Republican Party of India.