An NGO, UP Election Watch has said, “Out of 922 candidates, who are fighting election in the fourth phase, 116 are facing criminal cases.”
Talking to media persons here on Thursday, members of Election Watch said that Samajwadi Party topped the lists of such candidates, who are facing criminal cases.
“Samajwadi Party has fielded 57 candidates for the fourth phase out of which 27 candidates are facing criminal cases,” they said, adding, “Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is on second position in the list of such candidates.”
“Out of total 52 candidates of BJP, who are in the fray for the fourth phase of UP assembly election, there are 16 such candidates, who are facing criminal cases,” they added.
“Similarly, Indian National Congress (INC) has fielded 15 such candidates who are facing criminal cases,” they said, adding, “Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has fielded 15 such candidates who have criminal cases pending against them.”
The UP Election Watch further said that Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) has fielded six such candidates, who are facing criminal cases. “Besides, there are 24 such candidates among the smaller political parties and the independents,” they added.
“There are 24 candidates who according to the affidavit submitted by the UP Government to the High Court, have criminal cases against them
and were members of the outgoing assembly,” they said, adding, “In this list, the INC and the BSP and the BJP have 1,1, and 3 candidates
respectively, whereas the rest 19 candidates are from Samajwadi Party (SP).”
“There are 24 candidates who according to the affidavit submitted by the UP Government to the High Court, have criminal cases against them
and were members of the outgoing assembly,” they said, adding, “In this list, the INC and the BSP and the BJP have 1,1, and 3 candidates
respectively, whereas the rest 19 candidates are from Samajwadi Party (SP).”
“Out of total 57 constituencies, where the election will be held in the fourth phase, there are 9 constituencies, which have more than 4 candidates having criminal cases pending against them,” the Election Watch added.