The Election Commission of India (ECI) convened a high-level meeting on October 17, 2025, urging enforcement agencies and security forces to adopt proactive measures against the illicit flow of cash, liquor, drugs, and other voter inducements ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections. With polls scheduled in two phases on November 6 and 11—counting on November 14—the directive aims to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process in a state notorious for money-driven malpractices. The session, attended by representatives from 17 key departments, including the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), Enforcement Directorate (ED), Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), and Border Security Force (BSF), focused on crafting a robust roadmap to neutralise these threats, emphasising intelligence-sharing and zero-tolerance enforcement.

Agency heads briefed the ECI on their operational readiness, detailing ongoing preparations, implemented strategies, and future plans to foster inducement-free voting. Discussions spanned critical areas such as monitoring covert campaign expenditures by candidates and parties, inter-agency coordination at national, state, and district levels, and mapping high-risk constituencies along interstate and international borders. Bihar's 443-km porous frontier with Nepal heightens vulnerabilities to smuggling of fake currency, narcotics, and contraband, prompting the ECI to mandate enhanced surveillance and collaborative raids. Chief Secretary V. Srinivas and Director General of Police R.S. Bhatti joined virtually, alongside State Chief Electoral Officer H.R. Srinivasa, to align state-level efforts with central directives. This multi-stakeholder approach builds on past ECI interventions, like the 2020 Bihar model code violations that led to over 1,000 seizures worth Rs 1,000 crore.

The ECI stressed seamless intelligence exchange on economic offences, directing bodies like the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU-IND), and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to integrate data for swift interventions. Agencies such as the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) were tasked with bolstering border checks, while the Indian Railways Police (RPF) and Airports Authority of India (AAI) focus on transit points. The commission reiterated a 'zero-tolerance' policy, echoing its 2019 guidelines that resulted in a 20% dip in reported inducements during Lok Sabha polls. By fine-tuning intra-agency protocols, the ECI seeks to preempt cross-border inflows, a perennial issue in Bihar, where electoral spending often exceeds official limits by 300%, per Association for Democratic Reforms data.

Also Read: Sharad Pawar: BJP’s Response to Rahul Gandhi on ECI Fuels ‘Mistrust’

As Bihar's 243 constituencies gear up for a fiercely contested battle—pitting the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) against the opposition Mahagathbandhan amid a seat-sharing scramble within the INDIA bloc—these measures could reshape campaign dynamics. With over 7.3 crore voters at stake, the ECI's blueprint not only targets immediate threats but also sets a precedent for future elections nationwide. Enhanced vigilance, coupled with public awareness drives, is expected to deter violations, ensuring that the world's largest democracy upholds its commitment to free and fair polls. Outcomes from this coordination will be monitored closely, potentially influencing post-poll analyses and legislative reforms on electoral finance.

Also Read: Bihar Elections 2025: PM Modi, Amit Shah, Yogi Adityanath, BJP’s Star Campaigners