Youths, educated outnumber tainted candidates in by-polls
LUCKNOW: Educated youths and ‘crorepatis’ are in the forefront as criminals seem to have taken a backseat in the crucial Lok Sabha by-polls in Gorakhpur and Phulpur in Uttar Pradesh, say the Association For Democratic Reforms and UP Election Watch, which are citizen watchdog lobbies.
“We have seen two positive trends emerging from these by-polls: one is more than 78% of the candidates are youths (people below 50 years) and secondly, most of them are graduates,” said Sanjay Singh, chief coordinator of UPEW.
At 25%, (8 out of total 32 candidates), the number of those with criminal charges against them is a constant, he said. The downside: only three women contestants (9%) are in the fray on both the seats.
“One-fourth of the candidates
AT 25%, (8 OUT OF TOTAL 32 CANDIDATES), THE NUMBER OF THOSE WITH CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST THEM IS A CONSTANT. ONLY THREE WOMEN CONTESTANTS (9%) ARE IN THE FRAY ON BOTH THE SEATS
for the Gorakhpur and Phulpur Lok Sabha by-elections have criminal background and around 40% are crorepatis,” said Singh. Topping the tainted list is Independent candidate Atiq Ahmed from Phulpur, who has 53 criminal cases, including eight related to murder, pending against him. “Kaushlendra Singh Patel, BJP nominee for Phulpur has two criminal cases registered against him and one of them relates to bigamy,” he said.
Releasing the data on contestants after going through affidavits filed by them before the returning officer, the citizens’ body said around 40% of those trying their luck at the hustings (11 out of 32) were ‘crorepatis’ (multi-millionaires). Samajwadi Party nominee for Phulpur Nagendra Pratap Patel is the richest with total assets of Rs 33 crore followed by Independent candidate Atiq Ahmed with Rs 25 crore and Girish Narain Pandey of Sarvoday Bharat Party from Gorakhpur with assets of Rs 10 crore. “A curious case among those with highest dues is that of Dr Surhita Kareem, Congress candidate from Gorakhpur, who has declared assets of Rs 3.72 crore and dues of Rs 3.56 crore,” said Singh adding that ADR will bring this to the notice of the Election Commission. He said the organisation will also raise the issue of 17 contestants, who had not declared their permanent account number (PAN) and Income Tax Return details.