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Officials of the Election Commission flagged an “unusual surge” in liquor sales during the Model Code of Conduct period.
Instead of the standard two-day restriction, parts of Bengal are witnessing extended liquor bans stretching up to 96 hours. (Image: News18 Bangla)
In India, elections and dry days go hand in hand. The Election Commission of India (ECI) traditionally mandates a 48-hour ban on the sale of alcohol before polling, aimed at preventing voter inducement and maintaining law and order. But in West Bengal 2026 Assembly elections, this rule has taken an unusual turn. Instead of the standard two-day restriction, parts of the state are witnessing extended liquor bans stretching up to 96 hours, contributing to an unusually long dry spell.
The timing makes the development even more significant. The West Bengal Assembly elections are being held in two phases – April 23 and April 29, with results on May 4. In the run-up to these crucial dates, authorities imposed a series of overlapping and extended restrictions, leading to what businesses describe as nearly nine dry days in total.
When Did Liquor Ban Come Into Force In Bengal This Election?
Under standard ECI rules, West Bengal was to follow the 48-hour dry day norm before each phase of polling. For Phase 1 (April 23), liquor sales were to be suspended from April 21 until polling ended, while for Phase 2 (April 29), the ban was scheduled from April 27 to April 29. Additionally, a statewide dry day has been declared on May 4, the day of counting.
However, what has made this election cycle unusual is the extension and overlap of these restrictions. In several areas, enforcement effectively began earlier than the official 48-hour window, and with two phases close together, the bans have combined to create a much longer continuous restriction period. Reports indicate that bars and liquor outlets in cities like Kolkata have faced an extended shutdown well beyond the usual norm, disrupting business and nightlife.
Why Is Bengal Seeing More Dry Days This Election?
The core reason lies in heightened vigilance by authorities. While the 48-hour dry day rule is mandated by law, the extension to longer periods has been driven by concerns over electoral integrity.
Officials of the Election Commission flagged an “unusual surge” in liquor sales during the Model Code of Conduct period, based on analytics and monitoring systems. Law enforcement agencies have reported a sharp surge in poll-related seizures, underlining the scale of inducement concerns. In total, authorities have seized over Rs 427 crore worth of cash, liquor, drugs and other freebies in the state during the Model Code of Conduct period. This marks a steep jump from earlier figures in March, when seizures stood at around Rs 181 crore, indicating how enforcement intensified as polling dates approached. The data places West Bengal among the states with the highest value of election-linked seizures this cycle, reflecting both heightened monitoring and the scale of suspected malpractice.
Officials have seized more than 31.9 lakh litres of alcohol valued at roughly Rs 81 crore, making it one of the most prominent components of the overall haul.
This raised suspicions that alcohol could be stockpiled and used for voter inducement. In response, authorities opted for stricter, pre-emptive enforcement, effectively stretching the ban window.
The Election Commission has consistently maintained that such measures are necessary to ensure “free and fair elections”, reiterating that no liquor should be sold, served, or distributed in the run-up to polling.
At the same time, the multi-phase nature of polling in West Bengal has compounded the situation. With Phase 1 and Phase 2 separated by just a few days, dry days linked to each phase have overlapped, creating what is effectively a prolonged dry spell rather than isolated 48-hour bans.
April 21, 2026, 10:19 IST
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