General Elections and bye-elections 2026: Seizures surpass Rs 510 crores in West Bengal
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500+ questions on Polity with explanations
📌 Summary:
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The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced General Elections to Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal on March 15, 2026.
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Since activation of the Election Seizure Management System (ESMS) on February 26, 2026, total seizures in West Bengal have surpassed Rs 510.10 crore as of April 27, 2026.
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Breakup of WB seizures: Cash Rs 30 cr | Liquor: 48,46,183 litres (Rs 126.85 cr) | Drugs: Rs 110.12 cr | Precious Metal: Rs 58.28 cr | Freebies/Other: Rs 184.85 cr.
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This exceeds WB seizures during GELA 2021 (Rs 339 crore), indicating stronger enforcement this cycle.
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Over 2,728 Flying Squad Teams (FSTs) deployed to attend to complaints within 100 minutes; 3,142 Static Surveillance Teams (SSTs) set up at surprise Nakas.
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ECI directed State/UT governments to ensure strict compliance with the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS2 — Constitution and Polity (Election Commission of India, MCC, free and fair elections, electoral reforms).
📝 Prelims Facts:
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ESMS activated: February 26, 2026
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WB total seizures (till Apr 27): Rs 510.10 crore
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FSTs deployed: 2,728 | SSTs deployed: 3,142
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GELA 2021 WB seizures: Rs 339 crore (for comparison)
🔑 Key Term: Election Seizure Management System (ESMS) — An ECI digital platform for real-time monitoring and recording of seizures of cash, liquor, drugs, and freebies during elections to ensure inducement-free polling.
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