**Executive Summary**
This report outlines the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) enforcement actions and seizure statistics for the 2026 General Elections and bye-elections in various states, including Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. Between February 26 and March 25, 2026, authorities seized illicit inducements exceeding Rs. 400 crores to ensure inducement-free elections. Key highlights include the deployment of over 10,000 surveillance units and the rapid resolution of complaints through the C-Vigil app.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Enforcement and Surveillance**
* **Deployment:** Over 5,173 Flying squads and 5,200 Static Surveillance Teams (SSTs) have been deployed to monitor violations and conduct surprise checks.
* **Target Response Time:** Flying squads are mandated to attend to complaints within 100 minutes.
* **Review and Coordination:** High-level review meetings were held with Chief Secretaries, DGPs, and Heads of Enforcement Agencies to ensure violence-free and intimidation-free elections.
**Seizure Statistics (February 26 – March 25, 2026)**
* **Total Seizures:** Illicit inducements worth Rs. 408.82 crores have been confiscated via the Electronic Seizure Management System (ESMS).
* **Cash and Liquor:** Authorities seized Rs. 17.44 crores in cash and 16.3 lakh litres of liquor valued at Rs. 37.68 crores.
* **Drugs and Metals:** Drug seizures totaled Rs. 167.38 crores, while precious metals accounted for Rs. 23 crores.
* **Freebies:** Other miscellaneous freebies worth over Rs. 163.30 crores were intercepted.
**Complaint Redressal Mechanisms**
* **C-Vigil App:** Between March 15 and March 25, 2026, 70,944 complaints were lodged; 95.8% were resolved within the 100-minute target.
* **Public Helplines:** A dedicated Call Centre (number 1950) has been established for citizens and political parties to lodge complaints with DEOs or ROs.
* **Citizen Protection:** Enforcement agencies are directed to ensure that ordinary citizens are not harassed or inconvenienced during inspections.
**Impact Analysis**
**State/UT Governments and Enforcement Agencies**
**Impact**
They are responsible for large-scale coordination and the operational execution of surveillance through Flying squads and SSTs.
**Action Required**
Must ensure strict compliance with the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and utilize the Electronic Seizure Management System (ESMS) for reporting.
**Political Parties**
**Impact**
Parties are under heavy scrutiny regarding the distribution of cash, liquor, and freebies, with violations being tracked in real-time.
**Action Required**
Must adhere to the Model Code of Conduct and can use the C-Vigil Module or Call Centre 1950 to report violations by opponents.
**Ordinary Citizens**
**Impact**
Citizens are protected by District Grievance Committees to prevent harassment during inspections but are also empowered to act as monitors.
**Action Required**
Can report MCC violations via the C-Vigil app or the 1950 helpline and approach District Grievance Committees if inconvenienced by enforcement actions.
Key Entities Referenced
Election Commission of India (ECI): The primary regulatory authority responsible for conducting elections and ensuring compliance with electoral guidelines.
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.
Electronic Seizure Management System (ESMS): A dedicated platform used for the real-time tracking and coordinated reporting of seizures involving illicit inducements like cash, liquor, and drugs.
C-Vigil Module: An application enabling citizens and political parties to report violations of the Model Code of Conduct directly to election authorities.
Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal: The primary states and Union Territory where the General Elections to the Legislative Assemblies and bye-elections are being conducted.
Election Commission
General Elections and bye-elections 2026:
Seizures surpass Rs. 400 crores
Posted On: 26 MAR 2026 3:04PM 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 in 6
states 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 held a review meeting with the Chief Secretaries, CEOs,
DGPs, and senior officers from the 5 poll-going states/UTs and their 12 bordering states/UTs along
with the Heads of Enforcement Agencies to review readiness, enhance coordination, and directed
them to ensure violence-free, intimidation-free and inducement-free elections on 24th March,
2026.
3. To ensure this, over 5,173 Flying squads have been deployed across the States/UT to ensure that
the complaints are attended to within 100 minutes. Besides this, over 5,200 Static Surveillance
Teams (SSTs) have also been deployed for setting up surprise Nakas at different locations.
4. Since the activation of the Electronic Seizure Management System (ESMS) on the 26th of February,
till 25th March, 2026, over Rs. 408.82 crores worth of illicit inducements including, Rs 17.44
crores in cash, liquor worth Rs. 37.68 crores (16.3 lakh litres), drugs worth Rs. 167.38 crores,
precious metals worth Rs. 23 crores and other freebies worth over Rs. 163.30 crores have been
seized through a coordinated approach involving multi-enforcement agencies across different
States/UTs.
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 the
enforcement 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.
7. From 15th March till 25th March, 70,944 complaints have been lodged using the C-Vigil App in
the General elections and the bye-elections bound States/UTs. Of these, 70,831 have been disposed
of and 67,899 complaints i.e., 95.8% of the complaints were resolved within 100 minutes.
8. A complaint redressal system has been set up including a Call Centre number 1950 in which
complaint can be lodged by any member of the public or political party, with the DEO/RO
concerned.
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