The assets of sitting MLAs in Uttar Pradesh have increased by 320 percent in five years time. The average percentage growth in the assets of 47 re-contesting MLAs in the seventh phase of UP assembly elections show this.

The seventh phase has lowest number of graduates at 59 percent. But it has the maximum number of women candidates as compared to other phases of the polls. Hundred women candidates are reportedly in the poll fray.

These details were released jointly by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Uttar Pradesh Election Watch (UPEW). Affidavits of 325 candidates contesting the seventh phase were analysed.

According to the report, average asset of these MLAs as declared in 2007 was Rs 1.13 crore, which rose to Rs 4.74 crore in 2012 resting the average asset growth in five years at Rs 3.61 crore, which is around 320 percent.

Nawab Kazim Ali Khan of the INC from Suar constituency has the highest increase in asset worth Rs 47.70 crore (from Rs 9.18 crore in 2007 to Rs 56.89 crore in 2012), followed by Dharam Pal Yadav of RPD from Sahaswan constituency (Rs 14.42 crore in 2007 to Rs 47.72 crore in 2012) and Shahnawaz Rana of RLD from Bijnor constituency (Rs 2.02 crore in 2007 to Rs 17.99 crore in 2012).

The highest percentage increase in the asset (3046%) has been for Sinod Kumar Shakya of BSP from Dataganj constituency. His assets rose from Rs 9.60 lakh in 2007 to Rs 3.01 crore in 2012. R A Usmaani of SP from Nighasan constituency (1500%) and Mehboob Ali of SP from Amroha constituency (1391%) are the next two.

The report also says that a total of 169 candidates out of 325 analysed i.e. 52% are crorepatis.

The report details criminal charges against the candidates. It says that out of these 325 candidates analysed, 98 (30%) have declared pending criminal cases against them. Among these, 37 candidates have serious criminal cases like murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, rape, etc, pending against them.

Almost every party has given tickets to such candidates. While SP has 27 out of 60 (45%) candidates with pending criminal cases, BJP has 20 out of 60 (33%), BSP 13 out of 60 (22 %) INC 14 out of 51 (27%), RLD four out of 10 (40%), Peace Party has 13 out of 45 (29%), JD(U) four out of 26 (15%), and Ittehad-E-Millat Council and Rastriya Parivartan Dal has one out of one (100%) each candidate with pending criminal cases.

The report reveals that the candidate with maximum number of criminal cases against him is Mehboob Ali of SP who is contesting from Amroha. He has 15 declared criminal cases, including three murder charges. He is followed by Abid Raja Khan (SP, Badaun constituency) who has 10 criminal cases, including three murder charges and Dharam Yadav (Rashtriya Parivartan Dal, Sahaswan constituency) with eight criminal cases, including four murder charges.