The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday issued strict directives to all enforcement agencies to prevent the use of money power, freebies, and illicit substances during the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections and bye-elections in eight constituencies.
Expenditure Observers have been deployed across constituencies to closely monitor candidates’ election expenses since the announcement of the election schedule on October 6. The observers are coordinating with teams engaged in expenditure monitoring to ensure transparency and compliance.
Flying Squads, Surveillance Teams, and Video Surveillance Teams have been instructed to remain vigilant round the clock to detect any suspected instances of money power or inducements aimed at influencing voters. In addition, the ECI has activated the Election Seizure Management System (ESMS), an online platform that allows enforcement agencies to report interceptions and seizures in real-time during the election period.
Since the election announcement, enforcement agencies have seized a total of Rs 33.97 crore worth of cash, liquor, drugs, and other freebies. The ECI emphasized that while enforcement actions continue, ordinary citizens should not face inconvenience or harassment during inspections.
Voters can also report violations using the C-Vigil App, ensuring citizen participation in maintaining the integrity of the electoral process.