NE POLITICAL BUREAU
NEW DELHI, APR 22
In a sweeping crackdown ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections and bye-elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has reported seizures exceeding ₹1,072 crore in poll-bound Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, underlining its aggressive push to ensure free, fair, and inducement-free elections.
General Elections and bye-elections 2026: Seizures surpass Rs 1,000 crores in TN and WB
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— Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) April 22, 2026
The Commission, which announced the poll schedule on March 15 for Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, has directed all State and Union Territory administrations to strictly enforce the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
- Election Commission of India intensifies enforcement to ensure inducement-free polls
- Over 10,000 surveillance teams deployed across Tamil Nadu and West Bengal
- Cash, liquor, drugs, gold, and freebies seized since ESMS activation cross ₹1,072 crore
- Citizens urged to report violations via C-Vigil as MCC enforcement tightens
Reinforcing its zero-tolerance stance, the ECI has held multiple high-level review meetings with Chief Secretaries, Chief Electoral Officers, Directors General of Police, and enforcement agencies. The directive is clear: ensure “violence-free, intimidation-free and inducement free elections.”
To operationalise this mandate, a massive surveillance network has been activated. Over 5,011 Flying Squad Teams (2,728 in West Bengal and 2,283 in Tamil Nadu) are working round-the-clock to respond to complaints within 100 minutes. Additionally, 5,363 Static Surveillance Teams (3,142 in West Bengal and 2,221 in Tamil Nadu) have been deployed to set up surprise check-posts and intercept illegal inducements.
Data from the Election Seizure Management System (ESMS), active since February 26, reveals the scale of enforcement:
- West Bengal: ₹472.89 crore seizures, including cash, liquor worth ₹102.45 crore, drugs valued at ₹108.11 crore, and freebies worth ₹178.83 crore
- Tamil Nadu: ₹599.24 crore seizures, led by ₹100.19 crore cash, ₹159.31 crore in precious metals, and ₹259.14 crore in freebies
- Total: ₹1,072.13 crore across both states
The Commission has simultaneously cautioned enforcement agencies against overreach. “The enforcement authorities should ensure that ordinary citizens are not inconvenienced or harassed during the checking and inspection,” it said, adding that District Grievance Committees have been constituted to address complaints.
Empowering voters and political stakeholders, the ECI has urged the public to actively report MCC violations through the C-Vigil module on ECINET, strengthening participatory vigilance during elections.
With unprecedented seizures and tight monitoring, the poll watchdog’s message is unequivocal: electoral integrity will be enforced with full force as India heads into a crucial election cycle.
