THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
New Delhi, April 15: In India’s 75-year history of Lok Sabha elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has recorded the highest-ever seizures of inducements.
In a press release, the ECI stated that even before polls started, the commission had already seized a staggering Rs 4,650 crore which includes seizures of Rs 100 crore every day since March 1. Compared to the Rs 3,475 crore that was taken during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, this is a 34% rise.
Cash, alcohol, narcotics, precious metals, and other freebies are included in this total. Notably, around 45% of the seizures are of drugs and narcotics, which are the subject of special investigation by the commission.
“The seizures are a critical part of the ECI’s resolve to conduct the Lok Sabha elections free of inducements and electoral malpractices and to ensure a level playing field. Tightening, monitoring, and checking were among the focus of deliberations to ensure an inducement-free electoral process,” the ECI stated.
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Surge in seizures: Drugs and freebies soar, cash declines
When compared to the 2019 general elections, drugs and freebies have seen the largest spike in seizures thus far. Drugs worth Rs 2,068.8 crore, up from Rs 1,279.9 crore in 2019, and freebies worth Rs 1,142.49 crore, up from Rs 60.15 crore, have been confiscated by the ECI.
The ECI seized cash worth about Rs 395.5 crore, a considerable decrease from the Rs 844 crore seized during the 2019 general elections.
Seizures of alcohol totalled Rs 489.3 crore, up from Rs 304.6 crore in the previous elections. Seizures of precious metals decreased to Rs 562.1 crore from Rs 987.11 crore in the previous elections.
State wise seizures
As of April 13, the state with the largest total amount seized was Rajasthan with Rs 778.5 crore, followed by Gujarat with Rs 605.33 crore, Tamil Nadu with Rs 460.8 crore, Maharashtra with Rs 431.3 crore, and Punjab with Rs 311.8 crore.
Items and currency amounting to approximately Rs 236 crore were confiscated in the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
Apart from confiscating illegal funds, the commission has also implemented strict measures against about 106 government officials discovered assisting politicians in their campaigns, thereby breaching the Model Code of Conduct.
