NEW DELHI, Nov 20: The Election Commision of India (ECI) announced on Monday that since the elections were announced, poll workers in five states holding polls have reported seizing over ₹ 1760 crores, a 636 percent increase over the amount seized in these five states during previous elections. Mizoram, Telangana, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana are the five states that will be voting. The poll body said in a statement on Monday that “seizures exceeding ₹ 1760 crores have been reported in the five polling states since the announcement of the elections, which is more than 7 times (₹ 239.15 cr) the seizures made in previous Assembly Elections in these States in 2018.”According to data released by the poll body, Telangana, which is scheduled to hold elections on November 30, had the largest cash seizure, totaling over ₹ 659. 2 crore. Rajasthan came in second with ₹ 650.7 crore, MP with ₹ 323. 7 crore, Chhattisgarh with ₹ 76. 9 crore, and Mizoram with ₹ 49. 6 crore. Recall that the Statement states that in the last six state assembly elections in Gujarat, HP, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Karnataka, seizures totaling more than ₹ 1400 crores were made—eleven times more than in the previous assembly elections in these states.“A 636 percent increase in comparison to the seizure figures recorded in these five states during the 2018 Assembly Elections,” the statement stated. The Enforcement Commission of India (ECI) added that among the items seized were cash, alcohol, drugs, precious metals, freebies, and other items valued at crores. “With the Election Expenditure Monitoring System (ESMS), the Commission has also incorporated technology into the monitoring process this time around. This is working as a catalyst, as it has brought numerous Central and State law enforcement agencies together for improved intelligence sharing and coordination,” the statement continued.
