In the ongoing Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh, the second phase witnesses a notable presence of wealthy candidates vying for parliamentary seats, raising concerns over the nexus between money and politics. Among the eight constituencies set for elections in this phase—Amroha, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Bulandshahr, Aligarh, and Mathura—a staggering 42 crorepati candidates have thrown their hats into the electoral ring.
Data compiled by the Uttar Pradesh Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms paints a vivid picture of the electoral landscape. Out of the 91 candidates in contention, a significant 46 percent are identified as crorepatis. Equally alarming is the revelation that 18 candidates, accounting for nearly 20 percent of the total, have serious criminal cases registered against them.
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Hema Malini is richest
The influence of wealth extends beyond the realm of criminality. With the exception of three Congress candidates, all nominees from major parties—BSP, BJP, SP, Jai Hind National Party, and Samaj Vikas Kranti Party—are crorepatis.
Hema Malini, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate contesting from the Mathura parliamentary constituency for the third consecutive time, has declared assets worth around Rs 297 crore, which has increased by around 15% in last 5 years.
Out of this, assets worth Rs 129 crore are registered under her name, while assets worth Rs 168 crore are in her husband Dharmendra's name.
A comparison with the assets declared during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections reveals an increase of Rs 48 crore in Hema's wealth over the past five years, as she had declared assets worth Rs 249 crore during the previous elections.
Hema Malini, is followed by Satish Kumar Gautam of the BJP from Aligarh with assets worth Rs 16 crore, and Devvrat Tyagi of the BSP from Meerut with assets valued at around Rs 5 crore.
Criminals in fray
The breakdown of candidates with criminal records across political parties further underscores the issue. Notably, three out of eight Bahujan Samaj Party candidates, two out of seven from the BJP, and all four candidates from the Samajwadi Party have criminal cases against them. Likewise, 25 percent of BSP candidates, 29 percent of BJP candidates, and a staggering 50 percent of both SP and Congress candidates face serious criminal charges.
One candidate drawing particular attention is Amarpal Sharma, contesting from Baghpat on a Samajwadi Party ticket, who faces a total of nine criminal cases.
Educational qualifications
Moreover, the educational qualifications of the candidates raise questions about representation and competence. A significant 36 percent of candidates have not completed even their 12th grade, with qualifications ranging from 5th to 12th grade. Meanwhile, 52 candidates boast graduate-level education or higher, with a handful holding diplomas, while two candidates are literate, and two are outright illiterate.
The prevalence of crorepati candidates and those with criminal records underscores the complex dynamics shaping electoral politics in Uttar Pradesh, warranting closer scrutiny and deliberation on the integrity and inclusivity of the democratic process.
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