The Election Commission of India (ECI) today revealed that enforcement agencies have seized assets worth over Rs 650 crore in just 38 days since the rollout of the Electronic Seizure Management System (ESMS) on February 26, 2026, highlighting intensified monitoring ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
The action follows the announcement of election schedules on March 15 for Legislative Assemblies in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, along with by-elections in six states. The Commission directed all states and Union Territories to strictly enforce the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
Massive seizures across categories
- Cash: Rs. 53.2 crore
- Liquor: 29,63,689 litres worth Rs. 79.3 crore
- Drugs/Narcotics: Rs. 230 crore
- Precious Metals: Rs. 58 crore
- Freebies/Other Items: Rs. 231.01 crore
State-wise seizures
- West Bengal: Rs. 319 crore
- Tamil Nadu: Rs. 170 crore
- Assam: Rs. 97 crore
- Kerala: Rs. 58 crore
- Puducherry: Rs. 7 crore
West Bengal recorded the highest seizures, followed by Tamil Nadu, reflecting heightened enforcement in key poll-bound regions.
Tightened surveillance ahead of polls
The ECI has held multiple review meetings with senior officials, including Chief Secretaries, CEOs, DGPs, and enforcement agencies, directing them to ensure violence-free, intimidation-free, and inducement-free elections.
To strengthen monitoring, over 5,173 flying squads have been deployed to respond to complaints within 100 minutes, while more than 5,200 Static Surveillance Teams (SSTs) are conducting surprise checks across states.
The scale of seizures in a short period reflects the Commission’s focus on curbing illicit cash, liquor, drugs, and inducements in the run-up to elections.