Mahima
The seizure of illegal incentives to voters in the form of cash, valuables and liquor has crossed the record value of Rs. 1000 crore.
The ongoing polls to five assemblies and by-polls on some seats have seen a seizure of whooping four times high since the 2016 polls which was around Rs. 225.77 crore.
The Election Commission issued a ‘progressive’ report which will get updated as the remaining phases of polls are conducted.
The report states that maximum Rs. 446.28 crore was seized from Tamil Nadu where the elections have already ended.
Tamil Nadu is followed by West Bengal with seizure of Rs. 300.11 crore where four phases of election are yet to be conducted.
Total seizure of Rs. 122.35 crore, Rs. 84.91 crore and Rs. 36.95 crore from Assam, Kerala and Puducherry has been reported.
Additionally, in the constituencies where by-polls were being conducted, the seizure of cash, liquor, drugs and other freebies of Rs. 10.84 crore was reported.
The poll-panel labelled these seizures as a ‘historic milestone’ achieved ‘for the first time in any assembly electoral process’.
The Election Commission issued a statement, “The stupendous rise in seizure figures is because of better preparedness and multi-pronged strategy of the Commission. The Commission conducted exhaustive reviews at various levels which included review meetings with enforcement agenciesof the State/UT and central agencies”.