According to a report by the Association for Democratic Reform (ADR) based on an analysis of their polls, nearly 21% or 151 of the 670 candidates running for the sixth stage of the Uttar Pradesh general election faced affidavits in serious criminal cases such as rape and murder .

Of these, the Samajwadi Party (SP) fielded the most candidates with criminal charges.

Among the major parties, 29 out of 48 candidates (60%) are from SP, 20 out of 52 candidates (39%) are from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), 20 out of 52 candidates (36%) are from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) %) from Congress, 18 (32%) from 57 from Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and five of 51 (10%) from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Two candidates will reportedly be charged with rape, eight murders and 23 attempted murders.

The ADR report also found that 182 (27%) candidates brought criminal charges against themselves, with 40 (83%) of 48 candidates from SP and 23 (44%) of 52 candidates from BJP , 39% from Congress other than 52, 22 of 57 (39%) from BSP, and 7 of 51 (14%) from AAP.
Thirty-seven (65%) of the 57 constituencies voted on March 3 were “red alert” constituencies. A “red alert” constituency is a constituency where three or more competing candidates have brought criminal charges.

In February 2020, the Supreme Court ordered political parties to justify issuing tickets to candidates with criminal backgrounds and why other candidates with no criminal records could not be selected.

The ADR report also noted that the data collected showed that political parties had no interest in reforming the electoral system. “…our democracy will continue to suffer at the hands of lawbreakers turned lawmakers,” it said.

The report noted that 253 of the 670 candidates had assets worth more than $10 million. The average asset value of each candidate in the sixth stage is Rs 2.1 lakh.

Among the major parties, 45 (94%) of 48 candidates for SP, 42 (81%) of 52 candidates for BJP, 44 (77%) of 57 candidates for BSP, 26 out of 56 candidates (46%) from Congress and 14 out of 51 AAP candidates (28%) declared assets worth more than Rs 1 crore.

Complete News Source : HINDUSTAN TIMES