The Election Commission of India has seized over Rs. 1760 crores across the 5 states currently undergoing elections. The states are Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Telangana. Seizures exceeding Rs 1760 crores have been recorded in these states since the announcement of the elections, marking a substantial surge—more than 7 times the seizures reported during the previous Assembly Elections in 2018 (Rs. 239.15 Cr).
This surge in seizure figures, observed in both the ongoing elections and a few past state assembly elections, underscores the ECI’s resolute commitment to fostering free, fair, and inducement-free elections. The Commission has taken robust measures to monitor inducements and curb electoral malpractices, ensuring a level playing field.
It is noteworthy that seizures totaling over Rs. 1400 crores were conducted in the last six state assembly elections held in Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Karnataka. This amount is 11 times higher than the seizures reported in the preceding assembly elections in these states.
In a strategic move, the Commission has integrated technology into the monitoring process through the Election Expenditure Monitoring System (ESMS). This technological intervention has proven to be a catalyst, fostering collaboration and intelligence sharing among a diverse range of Central and State enforcement agencies. The implementation of ESMS reflects the Commission’s commitment to leveraging advanced tools for enhanced coordination, thereby reinforcing the integrity of the electoral process.
As per reports received from poll-going States, following is the seizure after announcement of elections and as on 20.11.2023 *.
Seizures made in past 6 State Assembly Elections:
ESMS represents a proactive initiative aimed at facilitating swift information exchange among various enforcement agencies, fostering multiple deterrence mechanisms. At the CEO and DEO levels, ESMS ensures seamless coordination with multiple enforcement agencies involved in the election expenditure monitoring process. The platform, designed for real-time reporting, streamlines the collection and compilation of reports from diverse agencies, enhancing overall coordination. Reports from poll-going states indicate the effectiveness of this internal app in streamlining and expediting the election expenditure monitoring process.
The Commission further held reviews with Chief Secretaries, Directors General of Police (DGPs), Excise Commissioners, Director Generals (Income Tax), and other senior officers of poll-going states and their neighbouring states and union territories.
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