Poll Seizures Cross ₹1,000 Crore in TN, WB
ECI tightens enforcement as Assembly elections and bye-polls approach
- Election Commission of India reports seizures worth ₹1,072 crore
- Major recoveries in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu
- Over 10,000 surveillance and flying squads deployed
- Strict monitoring under Model Code of Conduct
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 22nd April: The Election Commission of India on Wednesday said total seizures in poll-bound West Bengal and Tamil Nadu have crossed ₹1,000 crore ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections and bye-elections.
The Commission had announced the poll schedule on March 15 for Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, along with bye-elections, directing strict enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
According to data from the Election Seizure Management System (ESMS), seizures between February 26 and April 22 totalled ₹1,072.13 crore across the two states.
In West Bengal, total seizures stood at ₹472.89 crore, including cash worth ₹27.48 crore, liquor valued at ₹102.45 crore, drugs worth ₹108.11 crore, precious metals worth ₹55.88 crore, and other items including freebies amounting to ₹178.83 crore.
Tamil Nadu recorded higher overall seizures at ₹599.24 crore, including cash worth ₹100.19 crore, drugs valued at ₹76.72 crore, precious metals worth ₹159.31 crore, and freebies and other inducements worth ₹259.14 crore.
To enforce poll regulations, the Commission has deployed 5,011 Flying Squad Teams (FSTs), including 2,728 in West Bengal and 2,283 in Tamil Nadu, to respond to complaints within 100 minutes. Additionally, 5,363 Static Surveillance Teams (SSTs) have been set up to conduct surprise checks at multiple locations.
The Commission said it has held review meetings with Chief Secretaries, CEOs, DGPs and enforcement agencies to ensure elections remain violence-free, intimidation-free and inducement-free.
At the same time, the ECI directed authorities to ensure that routine checks do not inconvenience citizens. District Grievance Committees have been constituted to address complaints related to enforcement actions.
Citizens and political parties can report violations of the MCC through the C-Vigil module on ECINET.
