In the lead-up to the state elections across five states, law enforcement agencies have made substantial seizures totaling ₹1,760 crore in contraband, cash, and other prohibited inducements, announced the Election Commission of India (ECI) in a recent statement. The staggering value of these seizures marks a significant escalation from the sums confiscated ahead of the 2018 assembly elections, which stood at ₹239.15 crore.
Attributing this remarkable increase in seizures to the ECI’s unwavering commitment to ensuring fair and unblemished elections, the statement emphasized the commission’s relentless efforts to curb electoral malpractices and uphold a level playing field for elections in Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Telangana.
Telangana, set to vote on November 30, led the seizures with a reported value of ₹659.2 crore, closely followed by Rajasthan, scheduled for voting on November 25, with seizures worth ₹650.7 crore. Among the already conducted elections, Madhya Pradesh ranked third with a total seizure of ₹323.7 crore, while Chhattisgarh reported ₹76.9 crore and Mizoram recorded seizures amounting to ₹49.6 crore.
While Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Mizoram have concluded their voting processes, Rajasthan and Telangana are slated for single-phase voting on November 25 and 30, respectively. The model code of conduct remains in effect until the conclusion of the election process, with results to be announced on December 3.
The commission has incorporated technology, notably the Election Expenditure Monitoring System (ESMS), into its monitoring processes. ESMS acts as a pivotal tool facilitating better coordination, intelligence-sharing, and monitoring among a wide array of central and state enforcement agencies.
Sources By Agencies
