ECI Holds Summit with Enforcement Chiefs to Curb Cash, Liquor & Drugs Ahead of Bihar Polls
On October 17, 2025, the Election Commission of India convened a high-level meeting in New Delhi, assembling the heads of central enforcement and security agencies. The aim: to draw up a robust strategy against the use of cash, liquor, narcotics, and other inducements in the run-up to the Bihar Assembly elections. The panel, functioning under the Multi-Departmental Committee on Election Intelligence (MDCEI), heard from agencies about their existing preparations and plans for stricter vigilance.
Representatives from key bodies — including the CBDT, CBIC, ED, DRI, CEIB, FIU-IND, RBI, NCB, and RPF — presented their roadmaps. State-level officials such as the Chief Secretary, DGP, and Bihar’s Chief Electoral Officer joined virtually. During the meeting, the ECI stressed “zero tolerance” for any electoral malpractice and urged enhanced cross-agency coordination and real-time intelligence sharing.
One of the key directives was to map vulnerable constituencies and monitor the movement of contraband—especially across inter-state and international borders. Agencies were told to track cash flows, counterfeit currency, liquor consignments, and narcotics shipments entering Bihar. The Commission also emphasized that local districts must synchronize efforts and avoid working in silos.
Earlier in the campaign, enforcement agencies had already seized over ₹37.14 crore worth of illegal items — including cash, liquor, and narcotics — across Bihar. Those steps, now reinforced by the summit, reflect a tightening grip by the ECI on campaign finance discipline. Authorities pointed out that while seizure helps, prevention via intelligence-led mapping must now be front and center.
Observers see this as a more assertive ECI posture toward curbing “money power” in elections. The success of these directives will hinge on agile coordination, ground responsiveness, and countering evolving tactics by political actors. As Bihar votes approach (Nov 6 & 11), this crackdown could become a reference point for how India enforces clean polling in volatile battlegrounds.
