Fri. Mar 29th, 2024

The Election Commission of India has seized a total of ₹377.511 crore cash, ₹157 crores worth liquor, ₹705 crores worth drugs, ₹78 lakh litres of petrol, and precious metals worth ₹312 crores, since the time Model Code of Conduct for the general elections has come into force. With the elections coming closer this data is sure to increase.

After the Model Code of Conduct came into force on March 10, Election Commission has been on high alert against the parties using the money to buy voters that might lead in the unfairness in election results.

In 2014 general elections, EC has seized a total of ₹299.94 crores worth cash throughout the duration of the Lok Sabha elections. The figure in 2019 has encompassed the previous value by a considerable amount.

Tamil Nadu has accounted for the maximum seizure of cash worth ₹127.84 crore that is approximately 84% more of what was seized in 2014 general elections from the state. In 2014 elections Tamil Nadu contributed to only ₹15.56 crore seizure of money. The maximum amount of precious metals have also been seized from Tamil Nadu.

A maximum amount of alcohol, above ₹19 lakh liters, has been seized from Maharashtra, followed by Uttar Pradesh. ₹31,000 liters of alcohol was confiscated by the state of Maharashtra at the time of 16th Lok Sabha that counts to approximately 2% of the alcohol in the 2019 elections.

Narcotics worth ₹116 crore has been seized by the EC from Punjab bringing it at top of the list in drugs. In 2014, more than ₹780 crores worth of drugs were seized that is roughly around seven times of what has been seized in this year leading to a considerable decrease in the value.

According to the EC’s seizure report on March 27, EC has seized ₹613.176 crores worth of cash and other material from 29 states and 7 Union Territories across the country.

The highest amount of cash was seized from Andhra Pradesh amounting to ₹62.29 crores followed by Tamil Nadu, i.e. ₹49.48 crores which has now increased to ₹127.84 crores topping the list.

According to the EC’s report on April 1, Gujarat recorded the maximum seizure of illegal inducements at ₹509 crores.

A large amount of money, both accounted and unaccounted for, the cache of liquor and freebies, are being spent by the party candidates in the hope that they can win the elections by buying the voters.

The seven-phase of elections for 17th Lok Sabha will begin on April 11 and end on May 19. The election results will be announced on May 23.

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