NEW DELHI, Nov 20 : On Monday, the Election Commission of India (ECI) revealed that officials have reported a seizure of over ₹1,760 crores in five poll-bound states since the announcement of elections. This marks a significant 636% increase compared to seizure figures during the previous elections in these states. The states in focus are Mizoram, Telangana, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana.
According to the ECI’s statement, the reported seizures in these five states are more than seven times the amount seized during the previous Assembly Elections in 2018, which amounted to ₹239.15 crores. Among the states, Telangana, set to go to polls on November 30, reported the highest cash seizure, exceeding ₹659.2 crores, followed by Rajasthan with ₹650.7 crores, Madhya Pradesh with ₹323.7 crores, Chhattisgarh with ₹76.9 crores, and Mizoram with ₹49.6 crores.
Comparatively, the ECI noted that seizures exceeding ₹1,400 crores were made during the past six state assembly elections in Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Karnataka. This figure represents an eleven-fold increase compared to the previous assembly elections in these states.
The ECI emphasized that the seizures encompass various items, including cash, liquor, drugs, precious metals, freebies, and other valuables. The commission also highlighted the incorporation of technology, specifically the Election Expenditure Monitoring System (ESMS), into the monitoring process. This technological integration aims to enhance coordination and intelligence sharing among a wide array of central and state enforcement agencies.
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