“Over ₹1,000 Crore Seized Ahead of Polls: EC Cracks Down on Cash, Liquor and Freebies in West Bengal & Tamil Nadu”

As election fever peaks across key states, a quieter but intense battle has been unfolding behind the scenes — one against the flow of illicit cash, inducements, and illegal goods meant to influence voters.

On Wednesday, the Election Commission of India revealed that enforcement agencies have seized items worth over ₹1,072 crore in connection with the ongoing Assembly elections in states including West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.

The seizures, made since February 26 when the Commission activated its monitoring system, offer a glimpse into the scale at which electoral malpractice can operate.

The figures are striking — and telling.

In West Bengal alone, authorities have confiscated goods worth ₹472.89 crore.

This includes ₹27.48 crore in cash, nearly 39.31 lakh litres of liquor valued at over ₹102 crore, drugs worth ₹108 crore, precious metals worth ₹55.88 crore, and a wide array of other items — often referred to as “freebies” — amounting to ₹178.33 crore.

Tamil Nadu, too, has seen a massive crackdown. Agencies there seized ₹100.19 crore in cash, over 1.17 lakh litres of liquor worth ₹3.85 crore, drugs valued at ₹76.72 crore, precious metals worth ₹159.31 crore, and other goods worth ₹259.14 crore.

Taken together, these numbers reflect not just enforcement efficiency, but also the persistent challenge of ensuring that elections remain free from undue influence.

Polling in Tamil Nadu and the first phase in West Bengal is set to take place on Thursday, with the second phase in Bengal scheduled for April 29.

Earlier, voting had already been conducted in Assam, Kerala, and the Union Territory of Puducherry on April 9. The counting of votes across all five regions will take place on May 4.

Behind these operations is a large, coordinated enforcement effort. The Election Commission has deployed thousands of teams to monitor and act on violations of the Model Code of Conduct.

In West Bengal, 2,728 flying squads and 3,142 static surveillance teams have been deployed. Tamil Nadu has seen similar vigilance, with 2,283 flying squads and 2,221 static teams keeping watch.

These teams work around the clock — intercepting suspicious movements, conducting checks, and responding to complaints — all to ensure that voters can make their choices without pressure or inducement.

In its statement, the Commission emphasised that it has been closely reviewing preparedness with senior officials, including Chief Secretaries, Directors General of Police, and enforcement agencies across poll-bound states and their neighbours.

The directive is clear: elections must be violence-free, intimidation-free, and free from the influence of money or gifts.

While the numbers seized are staggering, they also serve as a reminder of the stakes involved in electoral democracy.

Beyond the headlines and campaign speeches lies a continuous effort to protect the integrity of the vote — ensuring that, ultimately, it is the will of the people, not the weight of money, that decides the outcome.