- By Imran Zafar
- Mon, 15 Apr 2024 03:19 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has seized a record amount of over Rs 4,650 crores in inducements, surpassing the total amount confiscated during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, which stood at Rs. 3,475 crores. The ECI stated that the poll body has seized over Rs 100 crore each day since March 1. This record-breaking seizure, which includes 45 per cent of drugs and narcotics, comes even before the first vote has been cast in the 18th Lok Sabha elections.
The polling commission stated that ECI’s enforcement measures and the use of the Election Seizure Management System (ESMS) were pivotal in curbing money power and electoral malpractices for the free and fair election process. The results came after meticulous planning and the involvement of the largest number of enforcement agencies to date, working in collaboration to monitor and check inducements.
The use of black money, above political financing and accurate disclosure of candidates' net worth may disturb the level playing field and help the political candidates with more resources. However, these seizures would help ECI to conduct 2024 Lok Sabha Elections with no inducements and electoral malpractices.
Chief Election Commissioner Shri Rajiv Kumar highlighted the challenge of ‘Money Power’ as one of the ‘4M’ challenges facing the elections. In response, the ECI has intensified its monitoring and checking mechanisms to ensure a level playing field for all through which voters would be able to select their representatives without any unethical practices.
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The Election Commission of India stated that comprehensive planning, scaled-up collaboration and optimal engagement of technology were instrumental in making these record-breaking seizures possible, reflecting the ECI’s unwavering resolve to conduct elections that are free from the influence of money power.
