Authorities have seized over ₹1,000 crore in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu before Assembly elections. Tamil Nadu saw seizures of ₹599 crore, while West Bengal recorded ₹472 crore. Freebies, cash, liquor, and drugs were among the seized items. The Election Commission has deployed teams to ensure fair elections and address public grievances.

Earlier, the ECI held review meetings with chief secretaries, CEOs, DGPs and enforcement agencies of poll-bound and neighbouring states, directing them to ensure “violence-free, intimidation-free and inducement-free” elections.

The Commission has stressed that the enforcement authorities should ensure that ordinary citizens are not inconvenienced or harassed during the checking and inspection for the enforcement of these directives. District Grievance Committees have also been set up to address any grievances in this regard, the ECI said.