Lucknow: Bjp has announced the names of its candidates in 105 seats in UP. Out of these, there are a total of 25 candidates in whose name criminal cases are registered. According to election commission rules, the party has released the names of these candidates on the Uttar Pradesh BJP website. Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya is the biggest name among the candidates with criminal cases. Apart from him, the names of Bijnor's Najibabad seat candidate Kunwar Bharatendu Singh, Thana Bhavan seat candidate Suresh Rana, Muzaffarnagar candidate Kapil Dev Agarwal have been named. Meerut City candidate Kamal Dutt Sharma is also on the list.

The party has also cited the reason for the selection of these candidates. Explaining the reason for choosing Keshav Prasad Maurya as a candidate on its website, the BJP said, "He is sitting MLA and deputy chief minister of the state. He has also served as an MP and state BJP president in the past. He is very popular not only in his area but all over the State. His name was proposed by the district unit. His name has been selected on the basis of merit, social work and work done for the upliftment of the people. Not only that, the party has also cited the reason for not selecting people without any criminal case other than him.

In a manifesto released on the website, the party said, "Keshav Prasad has been associated with his assembly constituency for a long time. Cases have been registered against him under political rivalry. Therefore, they have been given preference to make anticipation as compared to other contenders. The Election Commission has ordered that if a party selects candidates with criminal cases, it will have to report it on social media, print and electronic media or its website.

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