BSP which promises to end "goonda Raj" has fielded 25 " goondas"

Lucknow: Mayawati, who has often claimed that her Bahujan Samaj Party is a party with a clean-image and charged rival Samajwadi Party with harbouring criminals , has fielded the highest number of candidates (25) with a criminal background, for the second phase of election in the state. And it is not an exception. She had given tickets to almost as many candidates with criminal antecedents in the first phase.

In all, fifteen per cent candidates seeking election in the second phase are tainted. Minus three per cent, all others are facing serious criminal charges including murder and kidnapping. However, it is not the only party which has gone for such elements.

The Bhartiya Janta Party is better placed as it had selected only 16 such candidates against 21 by the Samajwadi Party.

An scrutiny of papers filed by candidates also reveals that crorepatis mostly seek election. Average assets of candidates who will face election in the second phase is Rs 2.12 crore.

It is also noteworthy that more than half of the total number candidates are under-graduate. There are only 50 left in the field who have income to the tune of about Rs one crore.

Of the total 721 candidates in the field, as many as 414 have not declared their income. The number of crorepatis or lakhpatis may go up after all of them declare their assets.

As many as 92 registered parties are seeking election in the second phase. Of them, six are national parties including the SP, BSP and the BJP and six other regional parties. All others are unrecognised parties and independents.

The polling for the second phase will be held on February 15.

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