As many as 33 out of 87 candidates contesting for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly by-elections have criminal records, said an analysis report by the Uttar Pradesh Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) on October 29, 2020.
As the election date of November 3 draws nearer, the report analyses affidavits of 87 out of 88 candidates, not including Bhupendra Kumar Dhangar from Tundla (SC) constituency, to understand their criminal background, finances, education, gender and other details.
The report found that 18 of the total 87 candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves while 15 persons have announced serious criminal cases against themselves.
A party-wise distinction of the candidates also shows that the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) had the highest number of persons (5 each) who declared their criminal cases in their affidavits. On the other hand, only 1 out of 6 Indian National Congress (INC) candidates declared their own cases. Similarly, 3 candidates out of 22 independent candidates did the same.
Even in the case of serious criminal cases, 5 (71 percent) out of 7 candidates from BSP, 5 (83 percent) out of 6 candidates from SP and 2 (9 percent) out of 22 independent candidates declared serious criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.
Moreover, one candidate declared a case of rape against himself while one person declared a murder case against himself. Meanwhile, as many as four candidates face cases of attempt to murder.
This means that 2 (29 percent) of the 7 constituencies in the state are red-alert constituencies where three or more contesting candidates are facing criminal cases.
While making a record of these cases, the report noted that, “The directions of the Supreme Court have had no effect on the political parties in selection of candidates as they have again followed their old practice of giving tickets to around 21 percent candidates with criminal cases. All major parties (less Bharatiya Janata Party – BJP) contesting in Uttar Pradesh by elections have given tickets to 17-83 percent candidates who have declared criminal cases against themselves.”
The Supreme Court February 13, specifically instructed political parties to give reasons for selecting such individuals rather than candidates without criminal antecedents. Moreover, reasons for such selections have to be with reference to qualifications, achievements and merit of the candidate concerned. Unfounded and baseless reasons like popularity, good social work among others are not sound reasons for fielding candidates with tainted backgrounds, said the court.
“This data clearly shows that political parties have no interest in reforming the electoral system and our democracy will continue to suffer at the hands of lawbreakers who become lawmakers,” said the report.
Regarding financial background, the report showed that 34 candidates (39 percent) out of 87 candidates are crorepatis with 15 persons having assets above Rs. 5 crores and 10 persons with assets between Rs. 2-5 crores.
A party-wise distinction shows that all seven candidates from the BSP come under this category while five out of the six SP candidates are crorepatis. Four candidates each from BJP and INC also declared themselves as crorepatis. Accordingly, the average of assets per candidate contesting in the state Assembly Bye Elections 2020 is Rs 2.91 crores.
Similarly, among major parties, the average assets per candidate for 7 BSP candidates is Rs. 2.89 crores; 7 BJP candidates is Rs 2.45 crores; 6 SP candidates is Rs. 13.69 crores; 6 INC candidates is Rs. 3.40 crores and 22 independent candidates is Rs. 2.31 crores.
Further details about the candidates may be read here:
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