The EC has introduced the use of technology into the monitoring process through the Election Expenditure Monitoring System, which brings a wide array of Central and state enforcement agencies together for better coordination and intelligence sharing. (Shutterstock Photo)
The seizures were reported across Mizoram (Rs 49.6 crore), Madhya Pradesh (323.7 crore), Chhattisgarh (Rs 76.9 crore), Rajasthan (Rs 650.7 crore) and Telangana (Rs 659.2 crore) as of Monday morning
The Election Commission of India (ECI) said on Monday the pre-poll seizures in the five states witnessing assembly elections have jumped by more than seven times when compared to 2018. Several agencies have seized cash, liquor, drugs and freebies worth Rs 1,760 crore, which was possible with the help of technology and coordination.
The seizures were reported across Mizoram (Rs 49.6 crore), Madhya Pradesh (323.7 crore), Chhattisgarh (Rs 76.9 crore), Rajasthan (Rs 650.7 crore) and Telangana (Rs 659.2 crore) as of Monday morning, the ECI said.
“The Election Commission of India’s persistent efforts have led to a significant and exponential increase in seizures in the five poll-going states of Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Telangana. Seizures over Rs 1,760 crore have been reported in the five states since the announcement of elections, which is more than seven times (Rs 239.15 crore) the seizures made in previous assembly elections in 2018,” the poll body said.
Election Expenditure Monitoring System in Action
Among the new changes the ECI has introduced the use of technology into the monitoring process through the Election Expenditure Monitoring System (ESMS) which brings a wide array of Central and state enforcement agencies together for better coordination and intelligence sharing.
“ESMS is an endeavour aimed at quick sharing of information by intercepting enforcement agencies to other relevant agencies for multiple deterrence. ESMS provides easy coordination at CEO & DEO level with multiple enforcement agencies involved in election expenditure monitoring process. The platform facilitates real-time reporting, saves time in collecting and compiling reports from various agencies and better coordination. As per reports received from poll-going states, this internal app is working well and helping in the election expenditure monitoring process,” the ECI said.
The statement also said the seizure figures from the ongoing elections in the five states and few previous state assembly elections demonstrate ECI’s “unwavering commitment to ensuring free, fair and inducement free elections by implementing robust measures to monitor inducements and curb electoral malpractices for a level playing field”.
The Monitoring Process
The teams led by senior DECs/DECs visited poll-bound states between June and August. They interacted with enforcement agencies with an aim to sensitise the participating field forces about the importance of expenditure monitoring and also to review their inputs for preparation for elections.
During the review, the EC stressed on a zero-tolerance approach on checking the flow of inducements to influence voters and multi-level actions by enforcement agencies which is reflected in the increase in seizure in these states.
In the last state assembly elections held in Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura and Karnataka, seizures worth over Rs 1,400 crore were made — 11 times more than what was found in the previous state polls.
Out of the five states witnessing elections, the polling has been completed in Mizoram, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. Rajasthan will vote on November 25 and Telangana on November 30. Counting of the votes will be done on December 3.
Source: News18