EC Seizures Cross Rs 400 Crore Before Polls
Election authorities have intensified enforcement ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, with total seizures of cash, liquor, drugs, precious metals and other inducements crossing Rs 400 crore. The Election Commission said the action covers poll-bound Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, along with bye-elections in six other states, as it seeks to ensure a violence-free and inducement-free campaign.
Poll Seizures Cross Rs 400 Crore Ahead Of Elections
The Election Commission said seizures of illicit inducements have crossed Rs 400 crore since enforcement measures were stepped up in the run-up to polling. The action follows the March 15 announcement of the election schedule, after which all states and Union Territories concerned were directed to strictly enforce the Model Code of Conduct.
Flying Squads And Surveillance Teams Deployed
As part of its intensified vigil, the Commission said more than 5,173 Flying Squads and over 5,200 Static Surveillance Teams have been deployed. These teams are conducting surprise checks and taking action against violations during the election period. The EC said it had also reviewed preparedness with chief secretaries, chief electoral officers, police chiefs and enforcement agencies from both poll-bound and neighbouring states.
Drugs And Other Inducements Form Major Share
Since the Electronic Seizure Management System was activated on February 26, authorities have seized Rs 17.44 crore in cash, liquor worth Rs 37.68 crore, drugs valued at Rs 167.38 crore, precious metals worth Rs 23 crore, and other inducements exceeding Rs 163.30 crore. The figures show that drugs and non-cash inducements together account for a major part of the total seizures.
cVIGIL Complaints See Rapid Disposal
The Election Commission also said public reporting through the cVIGIL app remained active, with 70,944 complaints lodged between March 15 and March 25. Of these, 70,831 were resolved, and nearly 96 per cent were addressed within 100 minutes. The EC said complaint redressal systems, including helpline number 1950, have been put in place to help citizens and political parties report violations quickly.
