Twenty-five per cent of the candidates fielded by different political parties for the first phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election have criminal cases against them, according to a report by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).

In the first phase of UP election, 58 assembly seats in 11 districts will go to polls on February 10.

Among the major parties, 21 (75 per cent) out of 28 candidates analysed from Samajwadi Party, 17 (59 per cent) out of 29 candidates analysed from Rashtriya Lok Dal, 29 (51 per cent) out of 57 candidates analysed from Bharatiya Janata Party, 21 (36 per cent) out of 58 candidates analysed from Congerss, 19 (34 per cent) out of 56 candidates analysed from Bahujan Samaj Party and 8 (15 per cent) out of 52 candidates analysed from Aam Aadmi Party have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits..

Among the major parties, 17(61 per cent) out of 28 candidates analysed from SP, 15(52 per cent) out of 29 candidates analysed from RLD, 22 (39 per cent) out of 57 candidates analysed from BJP, 11 (19 per cent) out of 58 candidates analysed from INC, 16 (29 per cent) out of 56 candidates analysed from BSP and 5 (10 per cent) out of 52 candidates analysed from AAP have declared serious criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.

According to the ADR report, there are also 12 candidates who have declared cases related to “crimes against women” and one of them has declared cases related to rape (IPC section 376).

ADR further said six candidates have declared cases related to murder (IPC section 302) against themselves and 30 have declared cases related to attempt to murder (IPC section 307) against themselves.

'No effect of Supreme Court directions on political parties'

Based on the data, the ADR said that Supreme Court directions have had no effect on political parties in selection of candidates in phase I of the polls.

“All major parties contesting in Uttar Pradesh phase I elections have given tickets to 15 per cent to 75 per cent candidates who have declared criminal cases against themselves. The Supreme Court in its directions dated February 13, 2020 had specifically instructed political parties to give reasons for such selection and why other individuals without criminal antecedents could not be selected as candidates,” it said.

“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,” it added.