Election Commission Seizes Over 1400 Crore in Illicit Assets During 2026 Assembly Elections
NEW DELHI, May 07, 2026 — The Election Commission of India has successfully seized illicit inducements worth more than ₹1,444 crore during the 2026 Legislative Assembly elections and various bye-elections.
This significant enforcement action covered the states of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, as well as the Union Territory of Puducherry. The total value of seizures marks a 40.14% increase compared to the 2021 elections, reflecting a heightened crackdown on the use of money and goods to influence voters.
Tamil Nadu recorded the highest total seizures at over ₹662 crore, while West Bengal saw the most dramatic rise in enforcement activity with a nearly 69% increase in confiscated assets compared to the previous election cycle.The massive operation was supported by a robust deployment of 376 Expenditure Observers and nearly 15,000 monitoring teams, including Flying Squads and Static Surveillance Teams.
Central to this success was the Election Seizure Management System, a specialized IT platform that facilitated real-time coordination and data sharing among various enforcement agencies. Since its activation in late February, the system helped officials track and seize ₹154 crore in cash, ₹183 crore worth of liquor, and over ₹337 crore in drugs.
Additionally, precious metals valued at ₹250 crore and freebies worth approximately ₹518 crore were intercepted across the poll-going regions.The Commission held several high-level review meetings with Chief Secretaries and Directors General of Police to ensure the strict implementation of the Model Code of Conduct.
While the code has now ceased to operate in most areas following the conclusion of the polls, it remains in effect for the Falta constituency in West Bengal.
These measures were part of a broader strategy to ensure that the electoral process remained free from violence, intimidation, and illegal inducements, maintaining the integrity of the democratic exercise across the five participating States and Union Territories.