The Lok Sabha polls have witnessed wins with vote margins as low as 0.0014% and as high as 97%. A State-wise, party-wise look at the proportion of close calls.
The table shows the closest and widest win margins in Lok Sabha elections in terms of vote percentage since 1962. It's interesting to note that the top two highest victiory margins were in Jammu & Kashmir in 1989.
| Year | State | Candidate | Party | Seat | Margin % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | A.P. | K.Ramakrishna | INC | Anakapall | 0.0014% |
| 1998 | Bihar | Som Marandi | BJP | Rajmahal | 0.0015% |
| 1996 | Gujarat | Gaekwad S. Dilipsinh | INC | Baroda | 0.0040% |
| 1989 | J&K | P.L.Handoo | JKN | Anantnag | 97.19% |
| 1989 | J&K | Saif Ud Din Soze | JKN | Baramulla | 91.87% |
| 1991 | Sikkim | Dil Kumari Bhandari | SSP | Sikkim | 86.86% |
The following graph shows the percentage of seats won by parties with a margin less than the median. For instance, of the 2,763 MP seats won by the Congress since 1962, 46.5% had a win margin less than the median.
The second graph shows the percentage of seats in a State which witnessed a win margin less than the median. For instance, of the 1,174 MP seats won in U.P. since 1962, 55% had a win margin less than the median.
