The second phase of the Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh unveils a notable presence of affluent candidates and criminals vying for parliamentary seats, raising concerns regarding the intertwining of wealth, crime and politics.
In the eight Lok Sabha constituencies at stake – Amroha, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Bulandshahr, Aligarh and Mathura – a striking 42 crorepati candidates have joined the electoral fray.
Besides, a majority of Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and Congress candidates have criminal records.
Data compiled by the Uttar Pradesh Election Watch and the Association for Democratic Reforms provide a comprehensive overview of the electoral landscape. Out of the 91 candidates contesting, a significant 46 per cent are crorepatis.
Equally worrisome is the revelation that 18 candidates, constituting nearly 20 per cent of the total, have serious criminal cases registered against them.
The influence of wealth extends beyond financial prowess, permeating into the realm of political power play. With only three exceptions among Congress candidates, nominees from major parties – Bahujan Samaj Party, Bharatiya Janata Party, Samajwadi Party, Jai Hind National Party and Samaj Vikas Kranti Party – boast considerable fortunes.
Leading the roster is Hema Malini, the BJP candidate contesting the polls from Mathura parliamentary constituency for the third consecutive term. Her declared assets stand at approximately Rs 297 crore, marking a 15 per cent increase over the past five years.
Out of this substantial wealth, Rs 129 crore is registered under her name, while assets worth Rs 168 crore are attributed to her husband Dharmendra. A comparison with her declared assets during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections underscores a notable surge, with an increase of Rs 48 crore over the past half-decade.
Closely following are Satish Kumar Gautam of the BJP from Aligarh, flaunting assets worth Rs 16 crore, and Devvrat Tyagi of the BSP from Meerut, with assets valued at around Rs 5 crore.
The breakdown of candidates with criminal records across political parties further accentuates the pressing issue. Remarkably, three out of eight BSP candidates, two out of seven from the BJP, and all four candidates from the SP face criminal charges. Similarly, 25 per cent of BSP candidates, 29 per cent of BJP candidates, and a staggering 50 per cent of both SP and Congress candidates carry the weight of serious criminal charges.
Noteworthy is Amarpal Sharma, contesting from Baghpat on a SP ticket, who grapples with a total of nine criminal cases.
Moreover, the educational qualifications of the candidates prompt concerns about representation and competence. A significant 36 per cent of candidates have not completed their 12th grade, with educational backgrounds ranging from 5th to 12th grade. Meanwhile, 52 candidates boast graduate-level education or higher, with a handful holding diplomas, while two candidates are literate and two are illiterate.
The dominance of crorepati candidates and those entangled in criminality underscores the intricate dynamics shaping electoral politics in Uttar Pradesh, necessitating heightened scrutiny and deliberation on the integrity and inclusivity of the democratic process.
