NE POLITICAL BUREAU
NEW DELHI, MAR 26
India’s 2026 electoral battleground has intensified with the completion of scrutiny of nominations and a sweeping enforcement drive that has already led to seizures exceeding ₹400 crore, signaling a high-stakes push by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to ensure clean and transparent polls.
General Elections and bye-elections 2026: Seizures surpass Rs. 400 crores
Read more : https://t.co/EqnaUPECN8 pic.twitter.com/JSZ4T0EaHA
— Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) March 26, 2026
The ECI had announced the election schedule on March 15, 2026, for Legislative Assemblies in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, along with bye-elections in six states.
- ECI completes scrutiny across Assam, Kerala, Puducherry; 2,140 candidates in fray for 296 seats
- Bye-polls in 5 constituencies see 66 candidates after verification by Returning Officers
- Massive ₹408.82 crore seizures underline crackdown on inducements ahead of April 9 polls
- 5,000+ flying squads, SSTs deployed; 95.8% complaints resolved within 100 minutes via C-Vigil
- Final list to crystallise after withdrawal deadline; focus on free, fair, intimidation-free elections
Following the last date of nominations on March 23 for Assam, Kerala, Puducherry and select bye-polls scheduled for April 9, Returning Officers (ROs) completed scrutiny on March 24, finalising the list of valid candidates.
Candidates in the fray after scrutiny
General Elections:
- Assam (126 seats): 789 candidates
- Kerala (140 seats): 985 candidates
- Puducherry (30 seats): 366 candidates
- Total: 2,140 candidates across 296 constituencies
Bye-Elections:
- Goa (1 seat): 3 candidates
- Karnataka (2 seats): 50 candidates
- Nagaland (1 seat): 7 candidates
- Tripura (1 seat): 6 candidates
- Total: 66 candidates across 5 constituencies
The scrutiny process was conducted by ROs in the presence of candidates or their agents, with complete videography to ensure transparency. Lists of validly nominated candidates, along with photographs, have been publicly displayed on official notice boards.
The last date for withdrawal of nominations is March 26, 2026, by 3:00 pm, after which the final electoral contest will take shape.
₹408.82 Crore Seizures Signal Zero-Tolerance Enforcement
In parallel, the ECI has launched an aggressive crackdown on electoral malpractices under the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
Since the activation of the Electronic Seizure Management System (ESMS) on February 26, authorities have seized ₹408.82 crore worth of illicit inducements up to March 25, including:
- ₹17.44 crore in cash
- Liquor worth ₹37.68 crore (16.3 lakh litres)
- Drugs worth ₹167.38 crore
- Precious metals worth ₹23 crore
- Freebies worth over ₹163.30 crore
This multi-agency operation underscores the Commission’s resolve to curb bribery and inducement-driven campaigning.
Mass Surveillance & Swift Action Mechanism
To ensure strict MCC compliance and real-time enforcement:
- 5,173 Flying Squads have been deployed for rapid response
- 5,200+ Static Surveillance Teams (SSTs) are conducting surprise checks
- Complaints are being addressed within 100 minutes
Citizens and political parties are actively using the C-Vigil app, with 70,944 complaints lodged between March 15 and March 25.
- 70,831 complaints disposed of
- 67,899 cases (95.8%) resolved within 100 minutes
Additionally, a dedicated Call Centre (1950) and District Grievance Committees have been established to ensure citizens are not harassed during enforcement drives.
Clean Poll push gains momentum
The Commission had earlier held a high-level review with Chief Secretaries, DGPs, CEOs, and enforcement agencies from poll-bound and bordering states, directing them to ensure violence-free, intimidation-free and inducement-free elections.
With scrutiny complete and enforcement tightening, the electoral landscape is now set for its next critical phase—finalisation of candidates post-withdrawal—as India moves closer to a decisive polling day.
