Lucknow. Out of 162 candidates contesting the sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh, 38 have criminal cases registered against them. The maximum number of criminal cases are registered against nine out of 12 SP candidates, six out of 14 BJP candidates and four BSP candidates. The maximum number of 25 criminal cases are registered against Babu Singh Kushwaha, who is contesting elections on a SP ticket from Jaunpur. While 10 cases are registered against BSP candidate from Shravasti Moinuddin Ahmed Khan and eight cases are registered against SP candidate from Sultanpur Ram Bhual Nishad.

Sanjay Singh, chief convener of Uttar Pradesh Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms, said that in the sixth phase, 162 candidates have entered the fray for 14 seats namely Sultanpur, Pratapgarh, Phulpur, Allahabad, Ambedkarnagar, Shravasti, Dumariyaganj, Basti, Sant Kabir Nagar, Lalganj, Azamgarh, Jaunpur, Machhlishahr and Bhadohi. Out of these, 38 candidates have criminal cases registered against them.

59 crorepati candidates are also in the fray

He said that 59 crorepati candidates are also in the fray. Among them, 14 out of 14 BJP candidates, 11 out of 12 SP candidates and 9 out of 14 BSP candidates are crorepatis. Maneka Gandhi, who is contesting from Sultanpur on a BJP ticket, is the richest candidate. She has assets worth Rs 97 crore.

Who is the poorest candidate?  

On the other hand, BSP candidate from Phulpur Praveen Patel's property is worth 64 crores and SP candidate from Pratapgarh Shivpal Singh Patel's property is worth 46 crores. Ram Kumar Yadav, who is contesting from the same seat, is the poorest candidate. He has property worth Rs 1,686. He said that 51 candidates are class 5th to 12th pass, while 105 have educational qualification of graduation or above.

Three candidates are diploma holders  

Three candidates are diploma holders. Apart from 60 candidates in the age group of 25 to 40 years, 75 candidates in the age group of 41 to 60 years are also in the fray. 27 candidates are in the age group of 61 to 80 years. 16 women candidates are also contesting in the sixth phase.