**Executive Summary**
This report details the Election Commission of India's (ECI) enforcement actions during the 2026 General Elections, highlighting that seizures in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal have exceeded Rs 1,000 crores. Since the activation of the Election Seizure Management System on February 26, 2026, over 10,000 surveillance teams have been deployed to ensure compliance with the Model Code of Conduct. Key objectives include maintaining inducement-free elections and addressing public complaints within a strict 100-minute timeframe.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Election Context and Directives**
* The ECI announced the schedule for General Elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and various bye-elections on March 15, 2026.
* State and UT governments are directed to ensure strict compliance with the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
* The primary goal is to conduct elections that are free of violence, intimidation, and inducements.
* **Enforcement Infrastructure**
* **Flying Squad Teams (FSTs):** 5,011 teams (2,728 in WB; 2,283 in TN) are deployed to attend to complaints within 100 minutes.
* **Static Surveillance Teams (SSTs):** 5,363 teams (3,142 in WB; 2,221 in TN) are established for surprise "Nakas" (checkpoints) at various locations.
* **Seizure Data (February 26 – April 22, 2026)**
* **Cash:** Total of Rs 127.67 crore seized (Rs 100.19 crore from Tamil Nadu).
* **Liquor:** Over 40 lakh litres seized, valued at Rs 106.3 crore.
* **Drugs:** Seizures valued at Rs 184.83 crore.
* **Precious Metals:** Seizures valued at Rs 215.19 crore.
* **Freebies/Other:** This category represents the highest value of seizures at Rs 437.97 crore.
* **Public Safeguards and Reporting**
* Enforcement authorities are instructed to ensure ordinary citizens are not harassed or inconvenienced during inspections.
* District Grievance Committees have been established to address public concerns regarding enforcement actions.
* The C-Vigil Module on ECINET is available for citizens and political parties to report MCC violations.
**Impact Analysis**
**State/UT Governments and Enforcement Agencies**
**Impact:** These bodies are under strict mandates to coordinate across borders and deploy massive surveillance infrastructure to monitor election conduct.
**Action Required:** Must ensure rigorous enforcement of the MCC and maintain the 100-minute response time for FSTs.
**Ordinary Citizens**
**Impact:** Citizens may be subject to inspections and checks at "Nakas"; however, they are protected by specific directives against harassment.
**Action Required:** Can report violations through the C-Vigil Module and approach District Grievance Committees if they face issues during inspections.
**Political Parties**
**Impact:** Parties are subject to heightened monitoring of assets, cash, and potential inducements through the Election Seizure Management System (ESMS).
**Action Required:** Must strictly adhere to MCC regulations to avoid seizures and can utilize the C-Vigil Module to report violations by opponents.
Key Entities Referenced
Election Commission of India (ECI): The primary regulatory authority responsible for conducting elections and enforcing conduct guidelines across poll-going states.
Model Code of Conduct (MCC): The set of guidelines issued by the ECI to regulate the conduct of political parties and candidates during the election period.
Election Seizure Management System (ESMS): A dedicated digital platform used for real-time tracking and reporting of cash, liquor, drugs, and other inducements seized during the election.
Tamil Nadu and West Bengal: The primary states identified as central to the enforcement operations and the locations of major seizures exceeding Rs 1,000 crores.
C-Vigil Module: An online reporting tool on ECINET that allows citizens and political parties to report violations of the Model Code of Conduct.
Election Commission
General Elections and bye-elections 2026:
Seizures surpass Rs 1,000 crores in TN and WB
Posted On: 22 APR 2026 4:44PM by PIB Delhi
1. Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the schedule for the General Election to Legislative
Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal and bye-elections on
March 15,2026. The Commission has directed the State/UT governments to ensure strict compliance
with the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
2. It may be recalled that the Commission has held multiple review meetings with the Chief
Secretaries, CEOs, DGPs, and senior officers from the poll-going states/UTs and their bordering
states/UTs along with the Heads of Enforcement Agencies and directed them to ensure violence-
free, intimidation-free and inducement free elections.
3. To ensure this, over 5,011 (2,728 in WB and 2,283 in TN) Flying Squad Teams (FSTs) have been
deployed across the two States to ensure that the complaints are attended to within 100 minutes.
Besides this, over 5,363 (3,142 in WB and 2,221 in TN) Static Surveillance Teams (SSTs) have
also been deployed for setting up surprise Nakas at different locations.
4. Since the activation of the Election Seizure Management System (ESMS) on February 26, 2026, the
data up to April 22, 2026 is presented below.
S. State Cash Liquor Liquor Drugs Preciou Freebies
No (Rs. Qty Value Value s Metal
/Other
(Litres) (Rs. (Rs. (Rs.
Crore) (Rs.
Crore) Crore) Crore)
Crore)
1. West Bengal 27.48 39,31,463 102.45 108.11 55.88 178.83
2. Tamil Nadu 100.19 1,17,713 3.85 76.72 159.31 259.14
TOTAL 127.67 40,49,176 106.3 184.83 215.19 437.97
5. The Commission has also stressed that the enforcement authorities should ensure that ordinary
citizens are not inconvenienced or harassed during the checking and inspection for theenforcement of these directives. District Grievance Committees have also been setup to address any
grievances in this regard.
6. Citizens/political parties can report MCC violations using the C-Vigil Module on ECINET.
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