Crorepatis- Criminals Nexus Rules Supreme in UP Elections: ADR Report

Kuldeep Chauhan

The role of money and muscle power is more than evident in Uttar Pradesh as all major political parties in UP phase-1 elections have fielded 55 per cent to 97 per cent candidates who are Crorepatis and 35 per cent to 75 per cent candidates who have declared criminal cases against themselves, reveal ADR and NEW report.

What is all the more serious is that the directions of the Supreme Court of India have had no effect on the political parties in selection of candidates in Phase -1 of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections. “The parties have again followed their old practice of giving tickets to around 25% candidates with criminal cases”, says Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), National Election Watch (NEW) report on UP elections phase-I released to media today.

“This close and alarming nexus between money power and muscle power has got so ingrained in electoral system that the citizens are almost left as hostage to the current situation”, report finds.

It is even more worrisome for Uttar Pradesh as 38 % of the population in UP is already below the poverty line as per the NFHS 2015-16 report of NITI Aayog published in 2021. “Money and muscle power hurt the principles of 'free and fair elections', 'participatory democracy' and 'level playing field', observe ADR and NEW.

ADR, NEW urges the voters to deliberate on these issues so that sanctity of elections is not ridiculed by tenacious entry of tainted candidates and candidates with abnormal multiplication of assets.

ADR, NEW, civil society group of country’s top volunteer experts is working in India, seeking electoral reforms to make democracy vibrant, clean and participatory for citizens of India over the years.

Analysing the affidavits filed by the contesting candidates to Election Commission of India, ADR, NEW found that out of 615 candidates analyzed, 156 (25%) candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves. As many as 121 (20%) candidates have declared serious criminal cases against themselves.

Out of them 21 (75%) out of 28 candidates analysed are from SP, 17 candidates (59%) out of 29 candidates analysed are from RLD, 29 (51%) out of 57 candidates analysed are from BJP, 21 (36%) out of 58 candidates analysed are from INC, 19 candidates (34%) out of 56 candidates analysed are from BSP and 8 (15%) out of 52 candidates analysed are from AAP. They have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits submitted to ECI.

As many as 12 candidates have declared cases related to crime against women. Out of 12 candidates one candidate has declared cases related to rape (IPC Section-376). Six candidates have declared cases related to murder (IPC Section-302) against themselves and 30 candidates have declared cases related to attempt to murder (IPC Section-307) against themselves, reveals the ADR.

As a result, ECI has declared 31 (53%) out of 58 constituencies as “red alert constituencies” in UP in phase-I polls. The red alert constituencies are those where 3 or more contesting candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves.

All major parties contesting in Uttar Pradesh phase-I elections have given tickets to 15 % to 75 % candidates who have declared criminal cases against themselves. The Supreme Court in its directions dated 13th February, 2020 had specifically instructed political parties to give reasons for such selection and why other individuals without criminal antecedents could not be selected as candidates.

The mandatory guidelines spell out that the parties must give reasons for such selection has to be with reference to qualifications, achievements and merit of the candidate concerned. But as observed in recent 6 State Assembly elections held in 2020-21, the political parties gave unfounded and baseless reasons like popularity of the person, does good social work, cases are politically motivated etc to justify their selection.

“These are not sound and cogent reasons for fielding candidates with tainted backgrounds. This data clearly shows that political parties have no interest in reforming the electoral system and our democracy will continue to suffer at the hands of lawbreakers who become lawmakers”, cautions ADR.

The money power is in full display in UP elections. Out of the 615 candidates, 280(46%) are crorepatis as all major political parties give tickets to wealthy candidates. Among the major parties 28 (97%) out of 29 candidates analysed are from RLD, 55(97%) out of 57 candidates analysed from BJP, 50(89%) out of 56 candidates analysed from BSP, 23 (82%) out of 28 candidates analysed from SP, 32(55%) out of 58 candidates analysed from INC and 22(42%) out of 52 candidates analysed are from AAP . These candidates have declared assets valued more than Rs 1 crore.

The average of assets per candidate contesting in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections 2022 Phase I is Rs 3.72 Crores.

Interestingly, as many as 239 (39%) candidates have declared their educational qualifications to be between 5^th and 12^thstandard, while 304 (49%) candidates have declared having an educational qualification of graduate or above. Seven candidates are Diploma holders, 38 candidates have declared themselves to be just literate and 15 candidates are Illiterates. 12 candidates have not given their educational qualification.

Another trend is that parties are giving tickets to younger candidates. As many as 214 (35%) candidates have declared their age to be between 25 to 40 years while 328 (53%) candidates have declared their age to be between 41 to 60 years. There are 73(12%) candidates who have declared their age to be between 61 to 80 years.

In the first phase, the parties have fielded just 74 (12%) female candidates in UP assembly election- 2022 Phase I.