TFP Bureau, Raipur, November 4, 2025: In the run-up to the Bihar Legislative Assembly elections and by-elections to eight Assembly constituencies, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has reported the seizure of illegal inducements exceeding Rs 108 crore across various states and union territories. The extensive crackdown comes as part of the Commission’s intensified surveillance and enforcement measures to ensure fair and transparent elections under the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
According to the Election Commission, the seizures include Rs 9.62 crore in unaccounted cash, liquor worth Rs 42.14 crore (around 9.6 lakh liters), drugs valued at Rs 24.61 crore, precious metals worth Rs 5.8 crore, and other freebies estimated at over Rs 26 crore. These recoveries have been made through coordinated action by multiple enforcement agencies working under the supervision of the Commission.
The ECI has instructed all state and union territory governments to ensure strict adherence to the MCC guidelines and to take immediate preventive measures against any attempt to influence voters through cash, liquor, or other forms of inducements. The Commission has reiterated that all enforcement agencies, including the police, excise, and revenue departments, must remain on high alert throughout the election period.
To ensure swift response to violations, the Election Commission has deployed 824 Flying Squads across Bihar. These teams have been tasked with acting on complaints received through the C-VIGIL app — the Commission’s digital platform for real-time reporting of election violations. The Commission has set a target to ensure that all such complaints are verified and addressed within 100 minutes of being reported.
Emphasizing the balance between vigilance and public convenience, the ECI has directed enforcement officials to ensure that ordinary citizens are not unduly harassed or inconvenienced during checks, inspections, or raids. The Commission underscored that the enforcement drives must be carried out in a professional and transparent manner while maintaining public confidence in the electoral process.
Citizens and political parties have been encouraged to make full use of the C-VIGIL app to report any instances of MCC violations, distribution of inducements, or misuse of official machinery during the election period. Additionally, a 24×7 complaint monitoring system has been set up, including a dedicated call center helpline at 1950, where complaints can be directly registered with the concerned District Election Officer (DEO) or Returning Officer (RO) for immediate action.
The Commission stated that these measures reflect its continued commitment to curbing electoral malpractices and ensuring a level playing field for all political participants. With the Bihar elections approaching, the ECI’s focus remains on maintaining integrity, transparency, and accountability in every phase of the democratic process.
