Fourth phase of UP polls: BJP leads with 19 or 40% out of 48 candidates with criminal cases, RJD is a close second

Counterview Desk
The Uttar Pradesh Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) have analysed the self-sworn affidavits of all 680 candidates from 98 political parties, including 6 national parties, 5 state parties, 87 unrecognized parties and 200 independent candidates, who are contesting in the fourth phase of Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections to be held on 23Th February, 2017. A synopsis:
Criminal Background
· Candidates with Criminal Cases: Out of 680 candidates analyzed, 116 (17%) candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves.
· Candidates with Serious Criminal Cases: 95 (14%) candidates have declared serious criminal cases, including cases related to murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, crimes against women etc.
· Candidates with cases related to murder: 7 candidates have declared cases related to murder (Indian Penal Code Section-302).
· Candidates with cases related to Attempt to Murder: 18 candidates have declared cases related to attempt to murder (Indian Penal Code Section-307).
· Candidates with cases related to Crimes against Women: 6 candidates have declared cases like assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty (Indian Penal Code Section-354), rape (IPC Section-376) and husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty (IPC Section-498A).
· Candidates with cases related to Kidnapping: 10 candidates have declared cases related to kidnapping for ransom, etc. (Indian Penal Code Section- 364, 365, 368).
Party wise Candidates with Criminal Cases

· 19(40%) out of 48 candidates from Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP), 12 (23%) out of 53 candidates from Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), 9 (23%) out of 39 candidates from Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), 13 (39%) out of 33 candidates from Samajwadi Party (SP), 8 (32%) out of 25 candidates from Indian National Congress(INC), and 24 (12%) out of 200 Independent candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.
· Party wise Candidates with Serious Criminal Cases: 10 (19%) out of 53 candidates from BSP, 14 (29%) out of 48 candidates from BJP, 8 (21%) out of 39 candidates from RLD, 10 (30%) out of 33 candidates from SP, 5 (20%) out of 25 candidates from INC and 19 (10%) out of 200 Independent candidates have declared serious criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.

Red Alert Constituencies

· There are 21 constituencies in the fourth phase of Uttar Pradesh assembly elections having 3 or more candidates with declared criminal cases. 

· Red Alert Constituencies are those which have 3 or more candidates with criminal cases contesting elections.