The Election Commission of India (ECI) Friday reported an unprecedented surge in enforcement action during the ongoing 2026 assembly elections and by-elections, with total seizures in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal alone crossing Rs 865 crore, signalling an aggressive crackdown on inducements and electoral malpractice.
The Commission, which had announced the election schedule on March 15 for assemblies in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, said it has enforced strict compliance with the Model Code of Conduct through close coordination with state administrations and central agencies. Senior officials, including Chief Secretaries, Chief Electoral Officers and Directors General of Police, have been part of multiple high-level review meetings, with a strong emphasis on ensuring violence-free and intimidation-free polling.
Data compiled under the Election Seizure Management System since February 26 shows that enforcement agencies have confiscated cash, liquor, drugs, precious metals and other inducements worth Rs 865 crore across the two states up to April 17. West Bengal accounted for Rs 427 crore in seizures, including Rs 100 crore worth of drugs, Rs 172 crore in freebies and other inducements, and liquor valued at Rs 81 crore. Tamil Nadu recorded even higher seizures at Rs 438 crore, with Rs 105 crore in precious metals, Rs 178 crore in freebies and Rs 74 crore in drugs forming a significant portion of the total.
Authorities also seized Rs 99 crore in cash across both states, while liquor confiscations crossed 32.9 lakh litres, underscoring the scale of efforts to dismantle voter bribery networks during the election period.
To intensify ground-level monitoring, the Commission has deployed over 5,000 Flying Squad Teams—2,728 in West Bengal and 2,283 in Tamil Nadu—mandated to respond to complaints within 100 minutes. In addition, more than 5,300 Static Surveillance Teams have been stationed at key points to carry out surprise inspections and maintain round-the-clock vigilance.
Even as enforcement has been ramped up, the Commission has cautioned officials against causing unnecessary inconvenience to the public. “Ordinary citizens must not be harassed in the process of enforcement,” it said, noting that District Grievance Committees have been set up to address complaints arising from checking drives.
The poll body has also urged citizens and political parties to report violations through the C-Vigil module on its ECINET platform, stressing that public participation remains crucial to safeguarding electoral integrity.
The scale of the seizures reflects both the intensity of the Commission’s monitoring efforts and the enduring challenge of curbing inducements in high-stakes elections, particularly in states like Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, where enforcement activity has historically been significant during poll cycles.