UP Polls, Phase 6: BSP fields most (24) candidates with criminal background

Lucknow: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has fielded the highest number of 24 out of 49 candidates with criminal records followed by BJP with 18 out of 45 candidates for the sixth phase polling of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections to be held on March 4.

The state ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) is not far behind with 15 out of 40 candidates having criminal cases against them, says the election watchdog Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) report.

RLD, CPI and Congress have fielded 5, 4 and 3 candidates respectively with criminal backgrounds. A total of 22 out of 175 independent candidates also have criminal cases registered against them.

Interestingly, out of the total 126 candidates with tainted background, 106 have been accused of serious criminal offences including Murder, Attempt to Murder, Kidnapping and crimes against women.

It may be mentioned that the fate of 635 candidates will be decided in the sixth phase polling to be held in 49 constituencies spread across 7 districts.

Meanwhile, Out of 635 candidates, 160 have assets worth in crores. BJP has the maximum (73 per cent) followed by BSP (71 per cent), SP (70 per cent), Congress (60 per cent) RLD (22 per cent) and Independent (13 per cent) candidates having movable and immovable assets amounting to crores.