Jubilee Post News & Views
- # Seizure in 2022 is four times compared to 2017 elections
- # Agencies seized drugs worth Rs 109 crores in Punjab
- # Over 8 lakhs litres of liquor in Uttar Pradesh seizued
Jubilee News Desk
Seizure of case, freebies, liquor, valuable metals and other items in five states where elections are going on has crossed Rs 1000 crore, which is four times the seizure done in these states during assembly election in 2017, in run up to elections.
Seizures mark increasing focus on expenditure monitoring process by the Commission and ECI’s efforts to curb menace of money power in elections. Assembly Elections are going on in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur and Goa.According to the election commission of India total seizure in Goa was Rs 12.73 ccrore, in Manipur Rs 167.83 crore, in Punjab Rs 510.91 crore, in Uttarakhand Rs 18.81 crore, in Uttar Pradesh Rs 307.92 that takes total seizure to Rs 1018.20 crore. In 2017 a total seizure was Rs 299.84, according to the election commission of India.
“The process of strengthening expenditure monitoring took off further from the Assembly Elections of 5 States/UT in 2021 wherein the efforts of multipronged strategy of the Commission led to rise of seizures more than 4 times when compared to 2017 assembly elections in these states/UT.’
The strategy included appointment of experienced officers as Expenditure Observers, sensitising and reviewing a larger ambit of enforcement agencies for more coordinated and comprehensive monitoring,
ensuring adequate availability of field level teams in the monitoring process. The Election Commission held multiple meetings with Heads of Enforcement Agencies like CBDT, CBIC, NCB, Excise and senior officials of bordering states to poll-going states for a thorough framework to ensure ‘inducement- free’ elections,” said ECI in a press statement.
The Commission also took extensive reviews of enforcement agencies and Police Nodal Officers during the meetings held in the states, to emphasize close and effective monitoring of items meant for influencing voters.
Sensing menace of drugs and its possible use during elections, the Commission also convened meeting with DG, Narcotics Control Bureau.
Regular review and strict enforcement have led to maximum seizures in Drugs/Narcotics category. Apart from above mentioned seizure figures, Commission’s visit galvanised enforcement authorities as the agencies seized drugs worth Rs 109 crores in Punjab and more than 8 lakhs litres of liquor in Uttar Pradesh, in run up to elections.
For effective monitoring to curb money power in General Elections to Legislative Assemblies of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur and Goa, Election Commission of India has deployed 228 Expenditure Observers.
Commission has also appointed Special Expenditure Observers, officers who hold impeccable and brilliant track record of domain expertise. The Special Observers have been travelling extensively in their assigned states holding various meetings with the CEO office, District Administration and enforcement agencies.
After due assessment, 63 Assembly Constituencies in these States have been marked as Expenditure Sensitive Constituencies for more focussed vigil.
This time ECI has given thrust on virtual campaigns seeking the Covid situation and a separate and dedicated format for accounting of expenses on virtual campaigns for both candidates and political parties have been already communicated to the Chief Electoral Officers of Poll bound states for accounting of such expenses, said the ECI press statement. The ceiling limit was also revised seeking the sensitivities of increase in cost inflation index and number of electors.
