Election Commission Makes “Highest Ever” Seizures Worth Rs 4,650 Crore Ahead Of Lok Sabha Polls (image-X/SpokespersonECI)
As the Lok Sabha elections inch closer, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has revealed that it has made a record by seizing Rs 4,650 crore ahead of the elections, surpassing the record of the 2019 polls.
Describing it as the “highest ever seizures of inducements” recorded in the history of Lok Sabha elections in independent India, the ECI revealed that since March 1, the poll body has seized Rs 100 crore every day on average.
The amount marks a sharp uptick over Rs 3,475 crore seized during the entire Lok Sabha elections in 2019.
The EC disclosed that out of the total seizures, 45 percent consist of drugs and narcotics, which have been the special focus of the agency. Through comprehensive planning, proactive citizen participation, scaled-up collaboration, optimal utilization of technology, and unified deterrence action from agencies, the poll body was able to achieve this feat, it said.
In terms of the state-wise distribution of seized inducements, Rajasthan ranked first with approximately Rs 778 crore seized. Rajasthan is followed by Gujarat with Rs 605 crore, while Maharashtra stands third with over Rs 431 crore seized.
According to the poll body, the use of black money, over and above political financing and its accurate disclosure, may disrupt the level playing field in a more resourceful party or candidate’s favor in certain regions.
On April 12, a panel consisting of CEC Rajiv Kumar and election commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Gyanesh Kumar analyzed all Central Observers deployed in Phase 1 of the elections set for April 19.
ECI is on track for the highest ever seizures of inducements recorded in history of Lok Sabha elections; on average, Rs.100 crore seized every day since 1st March . Rs. 4650 crores seized even before polling begins: higher than in 2019 polls#GE2024https://t.co/VCIo3BVRQz pic.twitter.com/L2quiqUELK
— Spokesperson ECI (@SpokespersonECI) April 15, 2024
