Cumulative seizures of potential poll inducements in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu touches Rs 1,072 crore | India News
NEW DELHI: The cumulative amount of potential election inducements in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu has touched Rs 1,072 crore, with the former reporting 96% of the value of seized liquor and the latter 78% of illegal cash seizures.Tamil Nadu will go to polls in one phase on Thursday, West Bengal will go to polls in two phases on Thursday and April 29.Of the total value of Rs 1,072-crore committed since EC’s activation of the Selective Seizure Management System (ESMS) on February 26, 2026, Tamil Nadu accounted for Rs 599.2 crore (56%) and West Bengal for Rs 472.9 crore (56%).Of the total Rs 127.7-crore cash seized, over Rs 100 crore was in Tamil Nadu and Rs 27.5 crore in West Bengal. Around 39.3 lakh liters of liquor worth Rs 102.5 crore were seized in West Bengal, while 1.2 lakh liters worth Rs 3.8 crore were seized in Tamil Nadu.The value of confiscated freebies was higher in Tamil Nadu at Rs 259 crore, while in West Bengal it was Rs 178.8 crore. Almost three times as many seizures of precious metals were reported in Tamil Nadu as compared to West Bengal. Drugs worth Rs 108 crore were seized in West Bengal and Rs 76.7 crore in Tamil Nadu.The EC, in a series of review meetings with Chief Secretaries, Chief Electoral Officers and DGPs of the two constituencies and their bordering states as well as heads of enforcement agencies, directed them to ensure violence-free, intimidation-free and incitement-free elections. It has deployed more than 5,011 flying squad teams and 5,363 static surveillance teams across the two states for this purpose.
