Three of top four rich contestants are mining contractors

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" was 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 Party’s (MGP) Dinar Tarcar (St Cruz) topped the list of 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 each.

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.

Tarcar’s name has featured in the draft public accounts committee (PAC) report prepared by opposition leader Manohar Parrikar.

Speaking to reporters, Bairwal said that in the 2012 polls, there was a 30 percent increase in the number of "crorepati contestants" for the Goa assembly as compared to 2007.

“Among major parties a total of 92 candidates of 129 analysed, or 71 percentm were crorepatis. In 2007, there were 41 percent crorepati candidates,” Bairwal said.

He said the rising but unhealthy pan national trend of political parties conveniently opting for crorepati candidates was disturbing.

“It appears that political parties did not give ticket to the common man and that politics has become for the rich only.”

“It is interesting that there is no corresponding increase of the per capita income in these areas nor is there any increase in the number of people coming above the poverty line,” Bairwal  said.

A total of 215 candidates are vying for the 40 Goa assembly seats.