Uttar Pradesh has achieved a unique distinction in the Urban local Bodies elections. The number of candidates with criminal charges has registered a sharp drop 10-12 percent. The number of such candidates is much lower than the number of tainted candidates in the Assembly elections.
In the first phase of polling on November 22 in 24 districts covering five Municipal Corporations, 71 Nagar Palika and 154 Nagar Panchayats, a total of 56 candidates are in the fray for five Mayoral seats, 901 for chairperson's post in 71 Nagar Palikas and 3856 candidates for 1819 Nagar Palika wards.
As per compiled by State Election Commission (SEC), 83.9 per cent candidates for Mayoral posts have no criminal records while this number is 93.9 per cent for candidates of chairman of Nagar Palika Parishad and 93.6 per cent of ward candidates of Nagar Palika Parishad.
For the post of Mayor, 16.1 per cent ( 9 candidates) have criminal cases while in Palika chairman post 0.5 per cent (44 candidates) and in Palika ward 3.3 (52) candidates have criminal background.
lakhpatis rule the roost among civicc poll candidates where 69.6 per cent of Mayoral candidates have assets of over Rs 25 lakhs. In case of chairman of Nagar Palika this number is 84.1 per cent and 95.4 per cent or 3699 candidates trying their luck having properties of over Rs 25 lakhs.
Crorepatis too are in the fray with seven candidates or 12.5 per cent for Mayoral posts, 26 or 2.9 per cent contesting for Palika chairperson's post and 7 or 0.2 per cent contesting for Palika wards.
In case of literacy level, 17 or 30.4 per cent of Mayoral candidates are post-graduate while this is 120 or 13.3 per cent of Palika chairperson candidates and 336 or 8.7 per cent for Palika ward candidates.
There are Doctorate candidates too in the fray but only in Palika Parishad. While there are five doctorate candidates for the post of Nagar Panchyat chairperson and six candidates for Palika wards.
Asfar as age was cconcerned, the highest are in the age group of 21-35 years in Mayor and Palika chairpersons' posts which have 38.9 per cent and 40.4 per cent respectively. But in Palika wards, the 36-45 year age bracket has the highest number of 37.2 per cent candidates.
Nomination process for the three phases have been completed where polling is scheduled on November 22, 26 and 29. Counting of votes for all phases would be held on December 1.