Former MLA and Unnao rape convict Kuldeep Singh Sengar’s wife will be contesting the Uttar Pradesh panchayat polls on a BJP ticket.

The BJP has made her a candidate for the district panchayat member from Ward 22 of Fatehpur Chaurasi, according to a list released by state party chief Swatantra Dev Singh.

Kuldeep Sengar was awarded life sentence by a Delhi court on December 20, 2019, for raping a 17-year-old girl in Unnao.

After his conviction, Sengar’s membership as an MLA was cancelled.

Samajwadi Party chief spokesman Rajendra Chowdhury said: “On one hand, it (BJP) talks about eliminating criminals and on the other, it glorifies them....”

BJP spokesperson Harishchandra Shrivastava said names of all the candidates were recommended by the district unit.