The Election Commission of India announced on Monday that enforcement agencies have confiscated illegal cash, narcotics, liquor, and freebies exceeding Rs 100 crore from Bihar and other states scheduled for assembly by-elections.
Breakdown of Seized Materials
According to the poll panel, seizures recorded until November 3 totaled Rs 108.19 crore in illicit inducements. The confiscated items include Rs 9.62 crore in cash, liquor valued at Rs 42.14 crore (approximately 9.6 lakh liters), drugs worth Rs 24.61 crore, precious metals amounting to Rs 5.8 crore, and additional freebies exceeding Rs 26 crore. These seizures have been made across multiple states holding elections.
Election Timeline
Bihar will conduct assembly elections in two phases on November 6 and 11. Simultaneously, assembly by-elections for eight constituencies across Jammu and Kashmir, Odisha, Jharkhand, Mizoram, Punjab, Telangana, and Rajasthan are scheduled for November 11. Vote counting for both assembly and by-elections will take place on November 14.
Enforcement Measures
To ensure free and fair elections, 824 flying squads have been deployed throughout Bihar. These teams are tasked with responding to complaints registered on the C-VIGIL application within 100 minutes, ensuring rapid action against electoral malpractices.
The Election Commission has issued strict directives to all enforcement authorities to monitor and prevent the movement of cash, drugs, liquor, and other inducements during the election period. This comprehensive surveillance aims to curb attempts at voter influence through illegal means.
Significance of the Crackdown
The substantial value of seized materials—particularly the Rs 42.14 crore worth of liquor and Rs 24.61 crore in drugs—indicates the scale of attempts to influence voters through illegal distribution of inducements. The deployment of flying squads and the C-VIGIL monitoring system represents the Election Commission’s intensified efforts to maintain electoral integrity.
With Bihar’s crucial assembly elections and multiple by-polls approaching, these enforcement measures underscore the commission’s commitment to preventing the use of money power and illicit materials in swaying electoral outcomes. The success of these operations will be closely watched as voters head to polling stations in the coming days.
