NEW DELHI: Cumulative seizures of potential poll inducements in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu have touched Rs 1,072 crore, with the former accounting for 96% of the value of liquor seized and the latter reporting 78% of the illegal cash seizures.While polling will be held in Tamil Nadu in a single phase on Thursday, West Bengal will vote in two phases on Thursday and April 29.Of the Rs 1,072-crore total value of seizures made since activation of the EC’s election seizure management system (ESMS) on Feb 26, Tamil Nadu accounted for Rs 599.2 crore (56%) and West Bengal Rs 472.9 crore (56 per cent).Of the total Rs 127.7-crore cash seizures, over Rs 100 crore were in Tamil Nadu and Rs 27.5 crore in West Bengal.
Around 39.3 lakh litres of liquor valued at Rs 102.5 crore were seized in West Bengal, as against 1.2 lakh litres worth Rs 3.8 crore in Tamil Nadu.The value of seized freebies was higher in Tamil Nadu at Rs 259 crore, as against Rs 178.8 crore in West Bengal. Tamil Nadu reported almost three times the seizures of precious metals as compared to West Bengal. West Bengal also accounted for drug seizures worth Rs 108 crore, and Tamil Nadu, Rs 76.7 crore.
EC has, in multiple review meetings with the chief secretaries, chief electoral officers and DGPs of the two poll-going states and their bordering states, as well as heads of enforcement agencies, directed them to ensure intimidation-free and inducement-free elections. It has deployed over 5,011 flying squad teams and 5,363 static surveillance teams across the two states.
