Gorakhpur, Phulpur Lok Sabha Bypolls: 25 Per Cent Candidates Have Criminal Cases Against Them

Lucknow, March 5: With few days let for Gorakhpur and Phulpur Lok Saha bypolls, a latest report said that nearly 25 per cent of candidates contesting the elections have criminal cases against. Eigh

Lucknow, March 5: With few days let for Gorakhpur and Phulpur Lok Saha bypolls, a latest report said that nearly 25 per cent of candidates contesting the elections have criminal cases against.

Eight out of 32 candidates contesting the bye-elections have criminal cases registered against them, a report released by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) report here.

According to the report said that far as heinous crimes were concerned, eight cases of murder and as many for an attempt to murder are registered against Independent candidate from Phulpur, Atiq Ahmed.

Raees Ahmed, a candidate from Parivartan Samaj Party also faces a case of attempt to murder.

There are 10 candidates in the fray from Gorakhpur and 22 from Phulpur. Polling in both the constituencies is slated for March 11.

Of the 32 candidates, 11 are crorepatis and the average asset of a candidate is Rs 3.15 crore, the report said.

Samajwadi Party’s Nagendra Pratap Singh Patel, who is contesting from Phulpur, is the richest candidate with assets worth Rs 33.85 crore. Atiq Ahmed has assets of Rs 25.50 crore, it said The report also states that 21 of the total candidates are graduates or above, Singh said.

The report said that as many as 78 per cent of candidates are in the age-group of 25-50 years, while rest are in the 51-70 years age bracket.

Of the 32 candidates in the fray, three are women, the ADR report said.