EC seizes voter inducements worth over 650cr from poll-bound states, UT

NEW DELHI: Potential elector inducements worthy implicit Rs 650 crore person been seized by Election Commission teams from the 5 poll-bound states/UT truthful far, with West Bengal accounting for astir fractional of these seizures.Since the physics seizure absorption strategy (ESMS) was activated connected Feb 26, 2026, flying squads and static surveillance teams person reported cumulative seizures worthy Rs 319 crore successful West Bengal, Rs 170 crore successful Tamil Nadu, Rs 97 crore successful Assam, Rs 58 crore successful Kerala and Rs 7 crore successful Puducherry.A category-wise breakup shows that freebies accounted for the largest percent of seizures successful presumption of worth (Rs 231 crore), followed by drugs (Rs 230 crore), liquor (Rs 79.3 crore), precious metals (Rs 58 crore) and currency (Rs 53.2 crore).As per EC information connected seizures made during the 2021 assembly polls, by April 16, 2021, erstwhile polling had concluded successful Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry and was half-way done successful Bengal, their full worth had crossed Rs 1,000 crore. Tamil Nadu topped the tally with seizures worthy Rs 446.3 crore, followed by Bengal (Rs 300 crore), Assam (Rs 122 crore), Kerala (Rs 85 crore) and Puducherry (Rs 37 crore).