Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday demanded shifting of all jailed candidates fielded by various political parties to Tihar Jail for holding free and fair election in Uttar Pradesh.
"We demand shifting of all the candidates who are contesting election and are lodged in different jails in the state to Tihar jail as the same will help the Election Commission’s resolve to hold free and fair election in UP," said BJP national general secretary and poll incharge of Varanasi zone Anant Kumar.
Addressing the mediapersons, senior BJP leader urged the commission to conduct polls in UP on the lines of Bihar where hardcore jailed criminals were shifted to Tihar jail during election, which he said immensely contributed in conducting peaceful poll in the state.
Expressing concern at the growing influence of criminals in UP politics, the senior BJP leader said jailed candidates fielded mostly by the ruling Samajwadi Party and Bhujan Samaj Party would vitiate the political atmosphere incase they continue to remain in UP jails during polls.
Asked if the party had made such demand to Election Commission in black and white, Anant Kumar said, "Written demand of shifting jailed candidates to Tihar jail is also being forwarded to Election Commission of India."
Responding to a query that BJP had also fielded some candidates with criminal background in the election especially in eastern UP, Kumar ignored question saying, "I am talking of those who are in jails and have been nominated by different political parties for contesting polls."
{{/usCountry}}Responding to a query that BJP had also fielded some candidates with criminal background in the election especially in eastern UP, Kumar ignored question saying, "I am talking of those who are in jails and have been nominated by different political parties for contesting polls."
{{/usCountry}}Urging the voters to vote for BJP, he said since Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and BSP supremo Mayawati were facing corruption charges, the BJP chief ministerial candidate had a clean image who would lead the State to prosperity. Lashing out at SP and BSP for plunging the state to backwardness and lawlessness, Anant Kumar said people of Uttar Pradesh even today remember BJP rule of Kalyan Singh and reiterated his party resolve to bring back lost glory of the state in every filed if it returned to power in the state.