UP Elections 2022: Of 615 candidates, 15 illiterate, 10 are 5th pass, finds ADR report

NEW DELHI: With Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections 2022 nearing their dates, the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) has analysed the criminal, financial, educational, gender backgrounds of the 615 candidates out of 623 contesting in the elections.

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According to the ADR report, 15 candidates are illiterate while 10 have just passed Class 5.

“239 (39%) candidates have declared their educational qualifications to be between 5th and 12th standard while 304 (49%) candidates have declared having an educational qualification of graduate or above. 7 candidates are diploma holders. 38 candidates have declared themselves to be just literate and 15 candidates are illiterates. 12 candidates have not given their educational qualification,” said the ADR report.

UP Elections 2022: Educational qualification of candidates

In its recommendations, ADR said that the Election Commission of India and all State Election Commissions should make it mandatory in all elections to carry display boards outside every polling booth showing a summarised version of candidates’ affidavits. The polling booths should essentially display details of the candidate's criminal records, assets, liabilities and education qualification.

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Uttar Pradesh Election Watch and ADR have not analysed 8 candidates as their affidavits were either badly scanned or complete affidavits were not uploaded on the ECI website, said an official statement.

Uttar Pradesh will go to poll in seven phases from February 10 to March 7, 2022.