The candidates contesting in the fourth phase of the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections are dominated by moneylenders and musclemen in large numbers. However, there are more crorepatis in this phase than the number of candidates with criminal cases. The Uttar Pradesh Election Watch Association for Democratic Reform (ADR) has released the report after analyzing the affidavits of 621 out of 624 candidates contesting for 59 seats in the fourth phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

In the fourth phase, out of 621 candidates from different parties, 167 (27 per cent) candidates have criminal cases registered against them. At the same time, the number of candidates with serious criminal cases is 29 i.e. 21 percent. The names of 31 out of 58 candidates of Congress and 30 of SP are included in the criminal cases. Out of 59 candidates of Bahujan Samaj Party, 26 have criminal cases against them. 44 per cent of BSP candidates have criminal cases against them. Of the 57 candidates of the ruling BJP, 23, or 40 per cent, have criminal cases pending against them. 40 per cent of BJP candidates have criminal cases.

According to the report, out of 621, 231 or 37 percent are crorepati candidates in the fourth phase. Among the crorepati candidates, the Bharatiya Janata Party has 50 out of 57, ie 88 percent, while the Samajwadi Party has 84 percent. The SP has fielded 48 crorepati candidates out of 57. 44 or 75 per cent of BSP’s 59 candidates, 28 out of 58 of Congress and 16 out of 45 candidates of Aam Aadmi Party are crorepatis.

42 percent candidates declared their liability

Among the top three candidates who declared maximum assets, AAP’s Lucknow West Vidhan Sabha candidate Rajiv Bakshi is in the first place, who has declared his assets as Rs 56 crore, while in second place is Samajwadi Party’s Anoop Kumar Gupta from Maholi assembly seat in Sitapur district. Whose assets are 52 crores. In third place is Shobhit Pathak from Hardoi assembly seat of Bahujan Samaj Party, who has declared his assets as Rs 34 crore. The average assets of candidates in the fourth phase of Uttar Pradesh assembly elections is Rs 2.46 crore while 42 per cent of the candidates have declared their liabilities.

91 women candidates are contesting in the fourth phase

In terms of educational qualification, in the fourth phase, more than 60 percent of the candidates have completed graduation or more, while 30 percent have described themselves as literate. Most of the candidates contesting the fourth phase of elections are young. About 36 per cent have stated their age as between 25 and 40 years. At the same time, only 10 percent of the candidates are in the age group of 61 to 80 years. In the fourth phase of Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, 91 women candidates are contesting.

Talking about the Aam Aadmi Party, which entered politics a few years back, it has fielded 45 candidates, but 11 of them also have criminal cases against them. The Aam Aadmi Party too relied on candidates facing criminal charges for 24 per cent. Talking about serious criminal cases, 38 percent of Congress, 39 percent of Samajwadi Party, 37 percent of BSP, 30 percent of BJP and 20 percent of Aam Aadmi Party candidates have criminal cases registered against them.