The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday said seizures related to election-related violations have crossed ₹865 crore in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal as enforcement measures intensify ahead of the 2026 Assembly 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, and directed strict implementation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
Massive enforcement drive underway
According to ECI, seizures made between February 26 and April 17 include cash, liquor, drugs, precious metals and other inducements, reflecting heightened surveillance to ensure free and fair elections.
West Bengal accounted for seizures worth ₹427 crore, while Tamil Nadu reported ₹438 crore, taking the combined total to ₹865 crore.
Authorities seized ₹99 crore in cash across both states, along with liquor valued at ₹84 crore. Drug seizures were valued at ₹174 crore, while precious metals worth ₹159 crore were also confiscated. Additionally, freebies and other inducements worth ₹350 crore were recovered.
Thousands of teams deployed
To curb malpractices, over 5,000 Flying Squad Teams (FSTs) and more than 5,300 Static Surveillance Teams (SSTs) have been deployed across the two states.
These teams are tasked with responding to complaints within 100 minutes and conducting surprise checks through naka points at key locations.
Focus on free and fair polls
The ECI has held multiple review meetings with senior officials, including Chief Secretaries, Directors General of Police and enforcement agencies, directing them to ensure violence-free, intimidation-free and inducement-free elections.
At the same time, the Commission has instructed authorities to avoid harassment of ordinary citizens during checks and inspections. District Grievance Committees have been set up to address complaints arising from enforcement activities.
Citizens can report violations
Voters and political parties have been encouraged to report violations of the Model Code of Conduct through the C-Vigil platform, enabling real-time monitoring and swift action.
