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Independents outnumber party candidates in UP

Only one-third of the 1,037 candidates in Uttar Pradesh belongs to national and state parties. The majority are fighting on their own, ensuring multi-cornered contests in many of the state's 85 seats.

Figures compiled by the election directorate in Lucknow showed that the seven national parties had fielded a total of 275 candidates. The Bahujan Samaj Party has put up candidates in all the 85 seats, the Bharatiya Janata Party in 82, the Congress in 76, the Janata Dal in 23, the Communist Party of India in six, the Samata Party in two and the Communist Party of India-Marxist in one.

Mulayam Singh Yadav's Samajwadi Party, recognised by the Election Commission as of state stature, has fielded 81 candidates. It has left the Ballia seat for former prime minister Chandra Shekhar, who is seeking re-election from his home constituency in eastern UP.

Altogether 491 Independents are in the fray while the number of candidates belonging to 'others' category -- members of unregistered or unrecognised parties -- comes to 190. Parties like the Apna Dal, All-India Muslim Forum, National Loktantrik Party, Shiv Sena, Rashtriya Janata Party, Akhil Bharatiya Jan Sangh, Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha, Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist-Liberation) and Indian Union Muslim League fall in this category.

The Hapur constituency has the maximum number of 'other' candidates -- seven. It is followed by Agra with six.

UNI

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