183. Balaghat

Indian National Congress held the seat; the winning margin narrowed from 54.8% to 40.2%.

Boundaries were redrawn between 1972 and 1977 — the comparison is matched by name and is indicative only.

• Won on a lower shareIts own vote share fell 4.4% — it held because the rest of the vote was more divided.
• New challengerJanata Party (JNP) finished second with 25.6% — it did not contest here in 1972.
• Vote consolidatedThe top two candidates took 91.5% of the vote between them, up from 85.8% — a tighter two-way contest.

Written from the constituency figures by a fixed set of rules — no language model.