In Uttar Pradesh, 135 (22 percent) of 623 candidates contesting third phase elections have criminal cases filed against them, according to an analysis of affidavits by the Association for Democratic Reforms and Uttar Pradesh Election Watch.
In all, 627 candidates are contesting in the third phase. ADR has not analysed the affidavits of four candidates because they were either incomplete or not properly scanned.
Of the 58 Samajwadi Party candidates analysed for the report, 30 (52 percent) have criminal cases against them.
In BJP, 25 (46 percent) out of 55 candidates have criminal cases against them, according to the report released by ADR. Among 59 Bahujan Samaj Party candidates, 23 (39 percent) have declared that there are cases against them.
Congress’ 36 percent candidates have criminal cases against them, according to the report. In case of Aam Aadmi Party candidates, this figure is 22 percent.
Out of the 623 candidates analysed by ADR, 103 (17 percent) candidates have serious criminal cases against them.
The criteria for categorising an offence as “a serious criminal case” is as follows:
- Whether the maximum punishment for the offence committed is of five years or more
- Whether the offence is non-bailable
- Offences pertaining to the electoral violation
- Offence related to the loss to exchequer
- Offences related to assault, murder, kidnapping and rape
- Offences mentioned in Representation of the People Act (Section 8)
- Offences under Prevention of Corruption Act
- Offences related to the Crimes against women
Eleven candidates contesting the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections in the third phase have declared cases related to crimes against women, according to ADR. Two of these candidates have rape cases filed against them.
Two Uttar Pradesh election candidates have declared murder cases against them.
Of the 59 constituencies voting in the third phase of election in Uttar Pradesh, 26 are red-alert constituencies. The constituencies where three or more candidates have criminal cases against them are classified as “red-alert” constituencies.
Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh will be held in seven phases. Two have already taken place. Third phase elections are scheduled to take place on February 20, fourth on February 23, fifth on February 27, sixth on March 3 and seventh on March 7.
The counting of votes will take place on March 10, along with Punjab, Goa, Manipur and Uttarakhand.
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