ECI Seizes Rs 865 Crore In Inducements Ahead Of West Bengal And Tamil Nadu Polls
ECI reports Rs 865 crore seizures in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu ahead of elections.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday reported large-scale seizures of inducement materials worth ₹865 crore in poll-bound West Bengal and Tamil Nadu as part of intensified enforcement measures ahead of upcoming elections.
According to official data released by the poll panel, enforcement agencies have confiscated cash, liquor, drugs, precious metals and other items suspected to be used for influencing voters. The Commission said the combined seizures from both states have been recorded since the Election Seizure Management System (ESMS) was activated on February 26, 2026.
The ECI stated that West Bengal accounted for seizures worth ₹427 crore, while Tamil Nadu recorded ₹438 crore, taking the total to ₹865 crore. Officials noted that the recovered items included significant quantities of cash, liquor and other valuables intended as inducements during the electoral process.
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In West Bengal alone, authorities have seized cash worth around ₹21 crore, along with over 31 lakh litres of liquor, in addition to drugs and precious metals valued at several crores. Tamil Nadu also reported substantial recoveries, particularly in cash and liquor, alongside seizures of narcotics and other valuable goods, according to the Commission’s data.
To strengthen enforcement, the Election Commission said more than 5,000 Flying Squad Teams and over 5,300 Static Surveillance Teams have been deployed across both states. These teams are tasked with monitoring violations of the Model Code of Conduct and ensuring rapid response to complaints, with a targeted response time of within 100 minutes.
The Commission also emphasised that measures are being taken to ensure genuine voters are not inconvenienced during enforcement checks. District-level grievance committees have been set up to address complaints arising from surveillance operations. Citizens and political parties have been encouraged to report violations using the C-Vigil mobile application. The ECI reiterated its commitment to conducting free, fair and inducement-free elections in all poll-bound states, including West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, where voting will be held in phases later this month.
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