Performance of Yogi Government Below Average: ADR Report

With the Lok Sabha elections just around the corner, the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) has released a detailed report on the voting patterns of Uttar Pradesh on March 1, which states that better employment opportunities, better health care and better law and order/policing remain the key issues before the voters of UP in the upcoming elections.

“Overall 42.82 per cent of the people sought better job opportunities, 34.56 per cent wanted better health care, while 33.73 percent wanted better law and order,” the report suggests.

The performance of the Yogi government on all top three voters’ priorities – better employment opportunities (2.06 on a scale of 5), better health care (2.64) and better law order/policing (2.56) was rated ‘below average’.

In the survey, it was found that 15 per cent voters admitted that distribution of cash, liquor and gifts remained important poll aspects, and could tilt the scales in a candidate’s favour.

Of this, 5 per cent said that these were very important poll factors even as 74 per cent voters felt that the distribution of cash, liquor and gifts was illegal.

The survey found that in all 31 listed issues, the performance of the state government was rated ‘below average’.

In rural areas, agricultural loan and availability of power were key demands for 44 per cent of the people.

The survey was carried out between October and December, 2018 and covered 40,000 persons from 80 Lok Sabha constituencies of UP.

In urban areas, a sizeable number (49 per cent) of people covered by the survey said better job opportunities was their top priority. This was followed by relief from traffic snarls (43 per cent) and water and air pollution (40 per cent).

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In rural Uttar Pradesh, voters’ topmost priorities were agriculture loan availability (44 per cent), electricity for agriculture (44 per cent) and better employment opportunities (39 per cent).

The performance of the Yogi government on rural voters’ priorities of agriculture loan availability (2.13 on a scale of 5), electricity for agriculture (1.94), and better employment opportunities (2.04) were rated ‘below average’.

In addition, the government has performed poorly in providing seeds/fertilisers (1.92).

Leading in Criminal Background

The ADR has released a detailed report based on the criminal backgrounds of MLAs and MPs elected in previous Lok Sabha elections, and three assembly elections – from 2004 to 2019.

Of the 19,971 candidates who were considered for the analysis, 1,443 MPs and 38 per cent legislators had admitted criminal records against them. Of these, 328 legislators and MPs have serious criminal charges against them, said the report.

According to the affidavits filed by SP MLAs and MPs, the highest criminal cases are recorded against the SP, BJP, Congress and BSP legislators, in that order.

In the elections held since 2004, out of 430 MPs and MLAs of the SP, 179 or 42 per cent of them had criminal cases running against them.

With Inputs from IANS and ADR

Also read: With Rs 1034 Crore Income, BJP is the Richest Party in 2017: ADR Report