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Ahead of elections, over 5,000 Flying Squad Teams (FST) have been pressed into service to respond swiftly to complaints, with a target of resolving issues within 100 minutes.
Election Commission of India (PTI File)
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday announced that it has seized more than Rs 1,000 crore worth of cash, liquor, drugs, precious metals and other items from just two states – Tamil Nadu and West Bengal – ahead of the 2026 general elections. In a communique, ECI stated that it has intensified surveillance and enforcement measures across key poll-bound states.
The Commission issued strict directions to state and union territory governments, making it clear that violations of the MCC would not be tolerated under any circumstances. To ensure compliance and maintain law and order, the ECI has been holding regular review meetings with Chief Secretaries, Directors General of Police (DGPs) and other senior officials of the concerned states.
To prevent election-related offences, a large and coordinated surveillance network has been deployed on the ground. In Tamil Nadu and West Bengal alone, 5,011 Flying Squad Teams (FST) have been pressed into service to respond swiftly to complaints, with a target of resolving issues within 100 minutes. Of these, 2,728 teams are patrolling in West Bengal and 2,283 in Tamil Nadu.
In addition, 5,363 Static Surveillance Teams (SST) have been stationed at state borders and key junctions to conduct surprise checks on the movement of cash, liquor and other inducements. According to the latest data from the Election Seizure Management System (ESMS), Tamil Nadu tops the list with seizures worth Rs. 599.24 crore, followed by West Bengal with Rs. 472.89 crore.
In Tamil Nadu, the highest amount of cash seized stands at Rs. 100 crore, while in West Bengal nearly 3.9 million litres of liquor have been confiscated. Beyond cash and liquor, the combined value of drugs, gold, silver and other items allegedly meant for free distribution to voters has reached Rs. 1,072.13 crore.
The ECI is also leveraging technology to strengthen public participation in the democratic process. Any citizen or political party that observes violations of election rules can lodge a complaint directly through the ‘C-Vigil’ mobile application. Surveillance teams are integrated with this app to enable quick action on verified complaints.
These extensive measures, combining ground-level vigilance with technology-driven monitoring and citizen participation, underline the Election Commission’s resolve to conduct the 2026 elections free from the influence of money and muscle power.
April 22, 2026, 6:48 PM IST
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