Cash, liquor, drugs: EC seizures in TN & WB cross Rs 1,000cr ahead of assembly polls

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission connected Wednesday said poll-related seizures successful West Bengal and Tamil Nadu person crossed the Rs 1,000 crore people up of the ongoing assembly elections and bye-elections.Enforcement agencies person recovered inducements worthy Rs 1,072.13 crore meant to power voters, the Commission said.

According to a property merchandise issued by the canvass body, the seizures included cash, liquor, drugs, precious metals and different freebies. EC alleged that the freebies were meant to power voters and occurred aft the Election Seizure Management System (ESMS) was activated connected February 26.

The Commission said, “freebies and allurements worthy Rs 1072.13 crore” person been seized truthful acold crossed the 2 poll-bound states.A state-wise break-up showed that West Bengal accounted for seizures worthy Rs 472.89 crore, portion Tamil Nadu reported a higher fig of Rs 599.24 crore.The recovered items see Rs 127.67 crore successful cash, astir 41,000 litres of liquor valued astatine Rs 106.3 crore, drugs worthy Rs 184.83 crore and precious metals specified arsenic golden and metallic valued astatine Rs 215.19 crore. Authorities person besides seized freebies and different inducements worthy Rs 437.97 crore, the Commission said.

The canvass assemblage said it has enactment successful spot extended surveillance and enforcement mechanisms to guarantee elections stay escaped of inducements and intimidation. Over 5,011 Flying Squad Teams, 2,728 successful West Bengal and 2,283 successful Tamil Nadu person been deployed to respond swiftly to complaints, with a mandate to enactment wrong 100 minutes.In addition, much than 5,363 Static Surveillance Teams person been stationed crossed cardinal locations to behaviour astonishment checks and acceptable up nakas, it added.The canvass assemblage observed that it has held aggregate reappraisal meetings with main secretaries, directors wide of police, main electoral officers and different elder officials, directing them to guarantee “violence-free, intimidation-free and inducement-free elections” successful enactment with the Model Code of Conduct.At the aforesaid time, it emphasised that enforcement actions should not inconvenience mean citizens. District Grievance Committees person been acceptable up to code complaints arising from checks and inspections.The Commission besides urged citizens and governmental parties to study violations of the Model Code of Conduct done the C-Vigil module connected ECINET, reinforcing its propulsion for participatory monitoring during the predetermination process.