Panaji: Three out of the top four candidates in Goa are linked to the mining industry, with the wealthiest having assets worth Rs 211 crore, affidavits filed to the Election Commission has revealed.

Ravi Bairwal, national convenor of the Association of Democratic Reforms ( ADR), also said that the growing trend of political parties preferring " crorepati candidates" is not healthy.

ADR has been scrutinizing and assessing affidavits filed by prospective candidates across the country.

Statistics provided to the media show that Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Partys ( MGP) Dinar Tarcar ( St Cruz) topped the list of the richest candidates with assets worth Rs 211 crore.

He has filed Income Tax returns Rs 1.01 crore.

Joaquim Alemao ( Cuncolim) and Shyam Satardekar ( Curchorem) rank third and fourth. They have total assets worth Rs 31 crore and Rs 30 crore respectively.

They have filed returns for Rs 2.11 crore and Rs 5.05 crore respectively.

Tarcar, Satardekar and Alemao have been accused of illegal mining by Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP) president Nitin Gadkari.

Tarcars name has featured in the draft Public Accounts Committee ( PAC) report prepared by Opposition leader Manohar Parrikar.