Criminalization of politics in UP
More than two dozen candidates with criminal records are contesting in UP elections. While analysts condemn the candidates being given the tickets, they voice that the onus lies with the voter who can check the entry of these criminals in politics.
Pritha Roy Choudhury
April 18 : The third round of the seven phased elections to the largest state in the country began today. More than 114 million voters are eligible to caste their votes to elect 403 members of the hugely populated state during these elections and each and every party is leaving no stone unturned to make a mark .
What is interesting is that in contrary to elections in other states, Uttar Pradesh is witnessing more than two-dozen candidates with criminal records contesting from various constituencies.
And leading the gang is Mumbai blast accused Abu Salem. Salem has filed his candidature from two constituencies of Mubarakpur and Azamgar under the banner of a little known political outfit Rashtrawadi Samajwadi Party. Salem, who was extradited from Portugal with the help of the Interpol, is currently in Mumbai jail. Salem candidature however is still in doubt. It may be mentioned that the Samajwadi party has withdrawn its candidate from the Azamgarh constituency leaving an impression that it is indirectly supporting the don.
Another candidate in the fray is thirty-five-year-old Seema Parihar, whose name was synonymous with terror until she surrendered in 2003. A woman dacoit from the ravines of Chambal, Parihar is contesting as a candidate for the Indian Justice Party.
Again Mukhtar Ansari, the don of Mau who is charged with crimes like murder and dacoity is contesting as an independent candidate from Mau constituency.
These were a few to name… And these goons justify their motive as well - If Balmiki could turn a saint and pen down the great epic Ramayana then why can’t the goons of today be given a chance to reform themselves.
While the voters of the state will decide the fate of the candidates during the month long elections that started on April 7, Analysts say the sole responsibility lie with the voters.
According to Professor Ramakant, “Criminals have adopted three important qualities of God and that is they are omnipresent, they are almighty and they do not categorize. But more importantly they do not possess the basic human quality that is they do not have a heart and show no kindness. It is the voters who have to realize this thereby not casting their vote for the candidate.”
He further said that there must be some law, which should defy such candidates from contesting for such important posts.
Senior academician and leader Sumit Vyas too opines the same “It is the voters and only the voters who can prevent these goons from becoming our leaders and taking care of our future. How can the voters bring such criminals to power?”
Citizens however say that it is the Parliament that should pass a law preventing such candidates from contesting in the elections.
“Ideally, Parliament should pass a law preventing “tainted” politicians from fighting elections,” said Sumit Awasthi, a college student.
According to a research, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) topped the list of nominees with criminal antecedents, while the ruling Samajwadi Party had fielded the maximum number of millionaires in the ongoing state assembly elections.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) followed the BSP. Of the total candidates fielded by the party, 27.03 per cent are facing criminal charges while the Samajwadi Party stands a close third with 26.5 per cent candidates from the rogues gallery.
Significantly, a large number of candidates including some of the multi-millionaires did not even have permanent account number (PAN).
So for voters who are yet to cast their ballot, selecting candidates who reflect criminal identity may come at the cost of electing politicians of dubious quality.
However, while candidates with criminal records continue to dominate UP’s political landscape, one hopes that the voters take up the onus on themselves to debar the tainted politicians from gaining their foot hold in the political arena.
Pritha Roy Choudhury
April 18 : The third round of the seven phased elections to the largest state in the country began today. More than 114 million voters are eligible to caste their votes to elect 403 members of the hugely populated state during these elections and each and every party is leaving no stone unturned to make a mark .
What is interesting is that in contrary to elections in other states, Uttar Pradesh is witnessing more than two-dozen candidates with criminal records contesting from various constituencies.
And leading the gang is Mumbai blast accused Abu Salem. Salem has filed his candidature from two constituencies of Mubarakpur and Azamgar under the banner of a little known political outfit Rashtrawadi Samajwadi Party. Salem, who was extradited from Portugal with the help of the Interpol, is currently in Mumbai jail. Salem candidature however is still in doubt. It may be mentioned that the Samajwadi party has withdrawn its candidate from the Azamgarh constituency leaving an impression that it is indirectly supporting the don.
Another candidate in the fray is thirty-five-year-old Seema Parihar, whose name was synonymous with terror until she surrendered in 2003. A woman dacoit from the ravines of Chambal, Parihar is contesting as a candidate for the Indian Justice Party.
Again Mukhtar Ansari, the don of Mau who is charged with crimes like murder and dacoity is contesting as an independent candidate from Mau constituency.
These were a few to name… And these goons justify their motive as well - If Balmiki could turn a saint and pen down the great epic Ramayana then why can’t the goons of today be given a chance to reform themselves.
While the voters of the state will decide the fate of the candidates during the month long elections that started on April 7, Analysts say the sole responsibility lie with the voters.
According to Professor Ramakant, “Criminals have adopted three important qualities of God and that is they are omnipresent, they are almighty and they do not categorize. But more importantly they do not possess the basic human quality that is they do not have a heart and show no kindness. It is the voters who have to realize this thereby not casting their vote for the candidate.”
He further said that there must be some law, which should defy such candidates from contesting for such important posts.
Senior academician and leader Sumit Vyas too opines the same “It is the voters and only the voters who can prevent these goons from becoming our leaders and taking care of our future. How can the voters bring such criminals to power?”
Citizens however say that it is the Parliament that should pass a law preventing such candidates from contesting in the elections.
“Ideally, Parliament should pass a law preventing “tainted” politicians from fighting elections,” said Sumit Awasthi, a college student.
According to a research, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) topped the list of nominees with criminal antecedents, while the ruling Samajwadi Party had fielded the maximum number of millionaires in the ongoing state assembly elections.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) followed the BSP. Of the total candidates fielded by the party, 27.03 per cent are facing criminal charges while the Samajwadi Party stands a close third with 26.5 per cent candidates from the rogues gallery.
Significantly, a large number of candidates including some of the multi-millionaires did not even have permanent account number (PAN).
So for voters who are yet to cast their ballot, selecting candidates who reflect criminal identity may come at the cost of electing politicians of dubious quality.
However, while candidates with criminal records continue to dominate UP’s political landscape, one hopes that the voters take up the onus on themselves to debar the tainted politicians from gaining their foot hold in the political arena.
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