Digital Desk: The Election Commission (EC) stated in a statement on Friday that more than Rs 1,000 crore in cash, narcotics, liquor, and freebies have been recovered so far in the assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur, and Goa. Notably, compared to the 2017 assembly elections, seizures have increased by more than fourfold in these states.
Punjab has the biggest liquor volume seized, with 59 lakh litres, giving the impression that the state's liquor supply is overflowing. Punjab was followed by Uttar Pradesh, from where 19 lakh litres of alcohol were seized.
Punjab topped the list for drugs, as narcotics worth Rs 376 crores recovered from the state, followed by Manipur with Rs 143 crores.
On the other hand, Uttar Pradesh, with Rs 91 crores, topped the list in cash seizures.
"Apart from the above-mentioned seizure data, the Commission's visit galvanized enforcement officials, who recovered drugs worth Rs 109 crore in Punjab and over 8 lakh litres of liquor in Uttar Pradesh in the run-up to the elections," the Election Commission said in a statement.
Reportedly, the EC convened repeated meetings with heads of enforcement agencies such as the CBDT, CBIC, NCB, and Excise, as well as senior officials from bordering states to poll-going states, to develop a comprehensive framework to ensure "inducement-free" elections.
During the meetings in the states, the Election Commission also conducted detailed assessments of law enforcement agencies and police nodal officers, emphasizing the importance of vigilant and effective monitoring of items intended to influence voters.
As per reports, the European Commission has dispatched 228 spending observers. In Addition, it also appointed special spending observers, officers with a proven track record in the field.
The special observers have been visiting their assigned states extensively, having meetings with the CEO's office, district administration, and law enforcement authorities.
Following a thorough analysis, 63 assembly constituencies in these five states have been designated as expenditure-sensitive constituencies, requiring increased scrutiny.
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