Uttar Pradesh: 38% candidates in sixth phase crorepatis

LUCKNOW: At least 38% candidates in the fray for the sixth phase of polling in UP are crorepatis with their average assets pegged at Rs 2.1 crore. Besides, 182 of 670 candidates (27%) have criminal antecedents. As many as 151 of them have been booked for grave crimes like murder and rape. A detailed analysis by election watchdog Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) states that 253 of 670 candidates fielded by political parties in 57 constituencies have declared themselves crorepatis. Among principal parties, SP has 45 candidates with assets of more than Rs 1 crore, while BJP has 42, BS, Congress 26 and AAP has fielded 14 crorepatis. With major political parties fielding wealthy candidates, money power is key in the polls, the report states. Among the tainted league, 40 of 48 candidates from SP and 23 of 52 candidates from BJP have declared criminal cases in affidavits. "Besides, 22 of 57 candidates from BSP, 22 of 56 Congress candidates and seven of 51 candidates from AAP have criminal cases against them," the report states. The ADR report also stated that average value of assets of an SP candidate was pegged at Rs 7.4 crore, Rs 5.4 crore for BJP, Rs 2.2 crore for Congress, Rs 4.5 crore for BSP and Rs 81.6 lakh for AAP.