UP Polls Phase 5: BSP fields 23 candidates with crime records; BJP follows

New Delhi: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has fielded the maximum number of candidates (23) with criminal cases against them, followed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with 21 such candidates for the fifth phase of Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

Samajwadi Party is no far behind with 17 candidates having criminal cases against them, followed by Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) (8), INC (3) and 19 independent candidates.

Also Read: UP Polls Phase 4: BJP fields 19 candidates with crime records; SP, Cong follow

The Uttar Pradesh election watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) in its report said, out of a total of 617 candidates in fray for 52 constituencies spread across 11 districts. Among the 117 candidates, 96 have been charged with serious criminal offences including murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping and crimes against women.

Also Read: UP Polls Phase 3: BJP, BSP field 21 candidates each with criminal background

The analysis includes 75 political parties, including 6 national parties, 4 state parties, 65 unrecognized parties and 220 independent candidates, who are contesting in the fifth phase to be held on February 27.

Other highlight from the fifth phase polling:

• A total of 168 candidates are crorepatis.
• 43 out of 51 candidates from BSP have moveable and immoveable assets worth crores.
• Out of 51 BJP candidates, 38 are crorepati.
• Out of SP's 42 candidates, 32 have worth of several crores.
• Seven out of 14 candidates from Congress have declared themselves as crorepatis.
• Nine out of 30 candidates from RLD have assets worth in crores.
• A total of 14 Independent candidates out of 220 have assets of over Rs 1 crore.

Also Read: UP Polls: BJP tops chart in fielding candidates with criminal background