NEWS
ANALYSIS
SPECIALS
INTERVIEW
CAMPAIGN TRAIL
CONSTITUENCY
ISSUES
GALLERY
MANIFESTOS
INDIA SPEAKS!
COUNTDOWN
CHAT
PREVIOUS RESULTS
SCHEDULE
DISCUSSION GROUP

Sunil Dutt wins in Bombay North-West

Veteran film star Sunil Dutt, who went into self-imposed exile from the electoral scene four years ago, staged a spectacular comeback, when he wrested the prestigious Bombay North-West parliamentary constituency, which he had represented for 11 years, from the Shiv Sena.

Dutt defeated sitting MP and senior Shiv Sena leader Madhukar Sarpotdar by 80,000 votes. Dutt polled 366,669 votes against Sarpotdar's 281,130.

Sunil Dutt first wrested from the Bombay North-West constituency from noted jurist Ram Jethmalani in 1984 and retained the seat in 1989 and 1991 as well. He refused to contest the 1996 Lok Sabha elections due to the arrest and subsequent detention of his son Sanjay Dutt under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act.

His critics said Dutt was heavily indebted to Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray for his personal intervention in getting Sanjay released on bail. However, Dutt maintained that his loyalty to the Congress was unquestionable and his refusal to contest elections was purely personal.

When he announced his decision to contest the 1999 Lok Sabha elections, Dutt said he felt the Congress needed him at this juncture and that the state party leaders who might have "sabotaged" his win were no longer in the party.

Tell us what you think of this report