New Delhi: Election Commission of India said election seizures 2026 have crossed Rs 400 crore as authorities intensified monitoring ahead of Assembly elections and bye-elections.
The Commission announced poll schedules for Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal on March 15. Since then, enforcement agencies have stepped up vigilance to ensure free and fair elections.
Election seizures 2026 cross Rs 400 crore mark
According to official data, authorities have seized illicit materials worth Rs 408.82 crore between February 26 and March 25. These include cash, liquor, drugs, precious metals and other inducements.
Specifically, officials confiscated Rs 17.44 crore in cash and liquor worth Rs 37.68 crore. In addition, they seized drugs valued at Rs 167.38 crore and precious metals worth Rs 23 crore. Authorities also recovered freebies worth over Rs 163 crore.
Because of coordinated action by multiple enforcement agencies, the scale of seizures has increased significantly. Therefore, officials believe these measures will help curb illegal inducements during elections.
Massive deployment to ensure compliance
To strengthen enforcement, authorities have deployed over 5,173 flying squads. These teams respond quickly to complaints and aim to resolve issues within 100 minutes.
Moreover, more than 5,200 Static Surveillance Teams are conducting checks through surprise roadblocks. As a result, monitoring has intensified across sensitive locations.
At the same time, the Commission has directed strict implementation of the Model Code of Conduct. However, it has also instructed officials to ensure that ordinary citizens do not face inconvenience during inspections.
Technology-driven complaint redressal
The Commission has encouraged citizens and political parties to report violations using the C-Vigil app. This digital tool allows real-time reporting of Model Code violations.
Between March 15 and March 25, authorities received 70,944 complaints through the platform. Impressively, officials resolved 95.8 percent of these complaints within 100 minutes.
In addition, a dedicated helpline (1950) remains active for grievance redressal. District-level committees are also addressing complaints efficiently.
Focus on free and fair elections
The Commission recently reviewed preparedness with senior officials from poll-bound states and neighbouring regions. It emphasised the need for violence-free and inducement-free elections.
Overall, election seizures 2026 highlight the scale of enforcement efforts. With increased surveillance, faster response systems and coordinated action, authorities aim to ensure transparent and fair elections across India.
