Election Commission Intensifies Crackdown on Money and Freebie Politics in Bihar Polls

The ECI’s stringent measures reflect its firm resolve to curb the influence of money power in elections—a long-standing concern that undermines the spirit of democracy.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has ramped up its vigilance mechanisms ahead of the General Election to the Legislative Assembly of Bihar and bye-elections in eight Assembly Constituencies (ACs), scheduled following the official announcement on October 6, 2025. In a decisive move to safeguard the integrity of the democratic process, the Commission has launched a multi-agency crackdown against the use of money, liquor, drugs, and freebies to influence voters.

Coordinated Enforcement Against Electoral Malpractices

To ensure a level playing field and prevent the misuse of financial and material inducements, the ECI has directed a wide range of enforcement agencies to intensify surveillance and coordination across Bihar. These include the State Police and Excise Departments, Income Tax Department, Enforcement Directorate (ED), Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU-IND), Reserve Bank of India (RBI), State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC), Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Central and State GST departments, Customs, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Railway Protection Force (RPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), Airports Authority of India (AAI), Department of Post, State Forest Department, and State Co-operative Department.

This extensive coordination marks one of the most comprehensive anti-money power operations in any state election to date. The ECI has also emphasized that these agencies must ensure strict enforcement without causing undue inconvenience or harassment to ordinary citizens.

Monitoring Mechanisms and Deployment of Observers

The Commission has deployed Expenditure Observers across all constituencies. These officers are tasked with monitoring the election expenses of candidates, verifying financial disclosures, and ensuring compliance with expenditure limits. They have already reached their respective districts and have begun consultations with various teams engaged in expenditure monitoring.

Key monitoring units, including Flying Squads (FSs), Static Surveillance Teams (SSTs), and Video Surveillance Teams (VSTs), are operating round-the-clock to detect and act upon any suspicious activities related to bribery or inducement of voters. Their operations are supplemented by district-level control rooms that analyze intelligence inputs and field reports to coordinate immediate response actions.

Real-Time Tracking Through Election Seizure Management System (ESMS)

In a bid to enhance transparency and operational efficiency, the ECI has activated the Election Seizure Management System (ESMS) — a digital platform designed to record, track, and report all seizures and interceptions made by enforcement agencies in real time. The ESMS enables seamless coordination among multiple enforcement bodies and provides instant alerts to senior officials and observers regarding high-value seizures or trends indicative of systemic violations.

Since the announcement of elections on October 6, 2025, enforcement agencies have already reported seizures worth ₹33.97 crore, which include cash, liquor, drugs, narcotics, and various freebies intended for voter inducement. This figure is expected to rise as surveillance intensifies during the campaign period.

Ensuring Free and Fair Elections

The ECI’s stringent measures reflect its firm resolve to curb the influence of money power in elections—a long-standing concern that undermines the spirit of democracy. By involving financial and law enforcement agencies at every level, the Commission aims to plug loopholes in monitoring systems and ensure that election expenditure remains within legally permissible limits.

Officials have been instructed to pay particular attention to airports, railway stations, interstate borders, warehouses, and godowns, which are often used for the movement of unaccounted cash, goods, or liquor during elections. The Banking sector and FIU-IND have been asked to flag suspicious transactions, while Excise and Narcotics departments have been tasked with tightening checks on illicit trade routes.

Public Participation Through the C-Vigil App

To further strengthen citizen participation in the electoral process, the Commission has encouraged the public to report any violations through the C-Vigil App, an online complaint platform that allows voters to submit photographic or video evidence of misconduct. Every verified complaint is geo-tagged and acted upon within 100 minutes, ensuring swift investigation and accountability.

Citizens can use the app to report instances such as distribution of cash or liquor, misuse of government vehicles, paid news, or hate speech, helping the Commission maintain transparency and uphold the sanctity of the electoral process.

A Message of Zero Tolerance

Reiterating its zero-tolerance approach toward electoral malpractice, the ECI stated that the use of money and material inducements to manipulate voters “erodes public faith in democracy.” The Commission has therefore directed all stakeholders—including political parties, candidates, and administrative officials—to uphold the highest standards of ethical conduct, transparency, and accountability throughout the election period.

The Election Commission’s proactive measures in Bihar are being seen as a template for clean elections nationwide. As the campaign gains momentum, these coordinated efforts are expected to ensure that the mandate of the people of Bihar reflects their free and informed choice, untainted by illicit influence or corruption.