LUCKNOW: Nearly 16% of the candidates in poll fray in the second phase of polling in Uttar Pradesh have a criminal background, according to a study. A study done by the Association for Democratic Reforms states that of the 147 candidates in the fray, as many as 24 have criminal cases against them of which 18 (12%) face serious criminal charges like murder, attempt to murder and kidnapping.

The above facts came to light during review of the nomination papers of the various candidates in the second fray which goes to poll on April 17, the report said.

As many as of five out of 11 candidates of the Bahujan Samaj Party (45%) have criminal background followed by Bharatiya Janata Party's 3 (27%), Aam Aadmi Party's 2 out of 10 (20%), Peace Party's 2 out of 10 (20%) Samajwadi Party's 1 out of 10 (10%) and Congress' 2 of 8 (25%).

The study further reveals that there are 52% crorepatis fighting the elections in this phase, and added that 52 of 147 candidates have assets worth crores. According to the report, all the 11 candidates fielded by BSP, BJP's 10 out of 11 (91%), Samajwadi Party's 9 of 10 (90%), Congress' 7 out of 8 (88%), and AAP's 3 of 10 (30%) are crorepatis.