The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi):In a remarkable display of its commitment to ensuring free and fair elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has intensified its efforts to combat the menace of money power and inducements during the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. The Commission’s determined and concerted assault has resulted in an unprecedented surge in seizures, with the total value expected to cross Rs. 9,000 crores in the near future.
The historic spurt in seizures can be attributed to the ECI’s enhanced vigil against inducements, particularly drugs and psychotropic substances. The Commission has adopted a multi-pronged approach, including intelligence-based coordinated action, constant review, and real-time monitoring through the Election Seizure Management System (ESMS) app. This strategic approach has led to precise data interpretation and active participation of enforcement agencies, resulting in significant seizure actions since March 1, 2024.
The seizure of drugs, liquor, precious metals, freebies, and cash has a varying impact on elections, with some flowing directly as inducements while others reduce the circulation of money. The Commission’s efforts have not only aimed at curbing the influence of dirty money from drug trade in elections but also at safeguarding the future of the youth and the country as a whole.
The ECI’s special emphasis on the seizure of narcotics and psychotropic substances has yielded remarkable results. Analysis of data has revealed that states and union territories that were once considered transit zones are increasingly becoming consumption territories. Chief Election Commissioner Shri Rajiv Kumar, during one of the review visits, stressed the need for precise intelligence-based collaborative efforts by agencies against drugs and narcotics to root out the role of dirty money in elections and to save the future of the youth.
The contribution of drug seizures to the total seizures stands at an impressive Rs. 3,958 crores, constituting 45% of the overall seizures. The Commission, led by CEC Shri Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioners Shri Gyanesh Kumar and Shri Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, has held meetings with the Director General of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) to ensure analytics-based proactive action by dedicated Nodal Officers of NCB. The active involvement of agencies such as the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Indian Coast Guard, and State police has been ensured during the ongoing elections.
Gujarat has been at the forefront of the fight against drugs, with the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), NCB, and Indian Coast Guard conducting joint operations that have led to high-value seizures amounting to Rs. 892 crores in just three days. These operations have resulted in the interception of a suspected Pakistani fishing boat carrying a large quantity of heroin, the busting of illicit drug manufacturing units, and the seizure of hashish.
Other states, such as Maharashtra, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh, have also witnessed significant drug seizures. The Noida Police recently busted a drug factory in Greater Noida, seizing 26.7 kg of MDMA valued at Rs. 150 crores and arresting two foreign nationals.
The Commission’s meticulous planning and exhaustive efforts have surpassed the entire seizures made during the 2019 Parliamentary Elections by a substantial margin. The deployment of 656 Expenditure Observers for Parliamentary Constituencies and 125 Expenditure Observers has further strengthened the monitoring process. These observers keep a close tab on check posts, the functioning of ground-level teams, and ensure that citizens are not put to discomfort during the monitoring process. Additionally, 123 Parliamentary Constituencies marked as Expenditure Sensitive Constituencies are under focused vigil.