Elections 98

State:	Bihar
Constituency:	Darbhanga
Total Votes Polled:	740510
Winner: RJD	Md. Ali Asharaf Fatmi	315503
Runner Up: BJP	Tara Kant Jha	279395
Margin: 36108 (11%)

Elections 96

State:	Bihar
Constituency:	Darbhanga
Total Votes Polled:	628362
Winner: JD	Md. Ali Ashraf Fatmi	321828
Runner Up: BJP	Dhirendra Kumar Jha	217807
Margin: 104021 (16.77%)

In 1989 and 1991 the Congress held on to the second spot behind the Janata Dal, but in 1996 it was the BJP, cornering 35.12 % of the vote, that was pipped at the post. M A Ashraf Fatmi -- Laloo's righthand man -- has retained this seat the last two elections.