**Summary of Election Seizures and Enforcement Measures for General Elections 2026**
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has reported that total seizures of illicit inducements in West Bengal have surpassed Rs. 510 crores during the 2026 General Elections and bye-elections. This follows the ECI’s March 15, 2026, announcement of election schedules for West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, and Tamil Nadu.
**Enforcement Infrastructure and Objectives**
To ensure violence-free and inducement-free elections, the ECI has implemented several enforcement measures:
* **Model Code of Conduct (MCC):** Strict compliance has been mandated across all poll-going States and Union Territories.
* **Flying Squad Teams (FSTs):** Over 2,728 teams have been deployed with a mandate to attend to complaints within 100 minutes.
* **Static Surveillance Teams (SSTs):** Over 3,142 teams are operational at various locations to conduct surprise checks (Nakas).
* **Monitoring System:** Data is tracked via the Election Seizure Management System (ESMS), which was activated on February 26, 2026.
**West Bengal Seizure Data (February 26, 2026 – April 27, 2026)**
The cumulative value of seizures in West Bengal reached Rs. 510.10 crore, exceeding the Rs. 339 crore recorded during the 2021 General Election to Legislative Assembly (GELA). The breakdown of the 2026 seizures is as follows:
* **Cash:** Rs. 30.00 Crore
* **Liquor:** 48,46,183 Litres (Value: Rs. 126.85 Crore)
* **Drugs:** Rs. 110.12 Crore
* **Precious Metals:** Rs. 58.28 Crore
* **Freebies/Other Items:** Rs. 184.85 Crore
* **Total:** Rs. 510.10 Crore
**Administrative Details**
* **Posted Date:** April 27, 2026, 3:49 PM
* **Source:** PIB Delhi
* **Release ID:** 2255897
* **Visitor Counter:** 369
Key Entities Referenced
Election Commission of India (ECI): The primary regulatory body responsible for conducting elections and directing state governments to comply with electoral codes.
Model Code of Conduct (MCC): A set of regulatory guidelines issued to political parties and candidates to ensure free and fair elections.
Election Seizure Management System (ESMS): A digital monitoring platform used to track and report the seizure of illicit inducements such as cash, liquor, and drugs.
Flying Squad Teams (FSTs) and Static Surveillance Teams (SSTs): Operational field units deployed to monitor electoral malpractices, attend to complaints, and conduct surprise checks.
West Bengal: The central location of focus where seizures of illicit inducements reached a record high during the 2026 elections.
Election Commission
General Elections and bye-elections 2026:
Seizures surpass Rs 510 crores in WB
Posted On: 27 APR 2026 3:49PM 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.
1. To ensure this, over 2,728 Flying Squad Teams (FSTs) have been deployed across the States
to ensure that the complaints are attended to within 100 minutes. Besides this, over 3,142
Static Surveillance Teams (SSTs) have also been deployed to set up surprise Nakas at
different locations. Special drives are being conducted against the manufacture, storage and
distribution of illicit liquor.
2. Since the activation of the Election Seizure Management System (ESMS) on February 26,
2026, the data up to April 27, 2026 is presented below.
State Cash Liquor Liquor Drugs Precious Freebies Total
(Rs. Qty Value Value Metal (Rs.
/Other
(Litres) (Rs. (Rs. (Rs.
Crore) (Rs. Crore)
Crore) Crore) Crore)
Crore)
West 30.00 48,46,183 126.85 110.12 58.28 184.85 510.10
Bengal
3. With this the total seizures of illicit inducements in West Bengal has surpassed Rs. 510 crores. This
is also higher than the seizures recorded during the GELA, 2021 with Rs. 339 crores in the state.
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PK/GDH/RP
(Release ID: 2255897) Visitor Counter : 369
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