Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Cumulative seizures of potential poll inducements in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu have surpassed Rs 865 crore, with the former accounting for 96% of the value of liquor seized and latter reporting 88% of the illegal cash seizures.While polling will be held in Tamil Nadu on April 23, West Bengal will vote in two phases on April 23 and 29. The Rs 865-crore seizures made since activation of the EC’s election seizure management system (ESMS) on Feb 26, 2026, are shared almost equally by West Bengal (Rs 427 crore) and Tamil Nadu (Rs 438 crore). Of the total 99 crore cash seizures, Tamil Nadu accounts for Rs 78 crore and West Bengal, Rs 21 crore. Around 31.9 lakh litres of liquor valued at Rs 81 crore was seized in West Bengal, as against 97,107 litres worth Rs 3 crore in Tamil Nadu.The value of freebies seizures is almost on par for both the states — Rs 172 crore in West Bengal and Rs 178 crore in Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu is far ahead in terms of seizures of precious metals, valued at Rs 105 crore as compared to Rs 54 crore in West Bengal. West Bengal accounts for drug seizures worth Rs 100 crore and Tamil Nadu, Rs 74 crore. EC has, in multiple review meetings with the chief secretaries, chief electoral officers and DGPs of the two poll-going states and their bordering states as well as heads of enforcement agencies, directed them to ensure violence-free, intimidation-free and inducement free elections. It has deployed over 5,011 flying squad teams and 5,363 static surveillance teams across the two states for the purpose.
