As West Bengal braces for the decisive second phase of assembly elections on April 29, the Election Commission’s flying squads and security forces have notched up seizures totaling ₹510.10 crore. This haul of unaccounted cash, liquor, narcotics, valuables, and voter bribes underscores the ECI’s zero-tolerance stance against electoral malpractices.
By Monday, the figure had eclipsed ₹339 crore, outstripping the 2021 election seizures. Post the March 15 notification, recoveries include ₹30 crore cash, liquor valued at ₹126.85 crore, drugs worth ₹110.12 crore, precious metals at ₹58.28 crore, and miscellaneous freebies amounting to ₹184.85 crore.
Bolstering oversight, more than 2,728 flying squads and 3,142 static teams are operational statewide, with rapid response protocols limiting complaint resolution to 100 minutes. Anti-liquor campaigns are in full swing, supported by the February 26-launched Electronic Seizure Management System for MCC compliance.
Ahead of polling across 142 seats, the ECI is ramping up tech-driven monitoring. Sensitive booths will have approach roads under CCTV watch, expanding on phase one’s indoor-outdoor camera deployment. Past reports of external intimidation prompted this upgrade, with camera counts scaled to risk levels.
This multi-layered strategy aims to safeguard democracy in a politically charged atmosphere. The May 4 result announcement will reveal if these measures curbed undue influence in the race for Bengal’s 294 assembly seats.
