Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar has directed Maharashtra’s Director General of Police (DGP) to implement a stringent crackdown on politically motivated crimes as the state prepares for upcoming assembly elections. This request came during a review meeting held by the Election Commission of India (ECI) with top officials from Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and bordering states to evaluate the law-and-order situation.
Addressing Concerns Over Electoral Integrity
During the meeting, CEC Kumar emphasized that politically motivated crimes undermine the electoral environment and create an uneven playing field. He stressed the need for enhanced efforts to prevent the flow of inducements such as cash, liquor, narcotics, precious metals, and other freebies into poll-bound states.
As part of the enforcement actions, seizures totaling approximately ₹345 crores have been made since the announcement of elections. This includes over ₹114 crores in Jharkhand and ₹175 crores in Maharashtra, marking a significant increase compared to the total seizures of ₹122.67 crores during the 2019 Assembly elections in these states.
Call for Vigilance Against Illicit Activities
CEC Kumar also urged authorities in Jharkhand to maintain impartiality in their interactions with political figures and to avoid any misuse of power. The Commission highlighted the necessity for strict surveillance and intelligence gathering to combat the movement of contraband items, including narcotics, liquor, arms, and explosives across state borders. Authorities have been instructed to identify key exit and entry points for such illicit items to ensure rigorous monitoring and enforcement actions.
