As the heat of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly Elections intensifies, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has shifted into high gear to ensure a level playing field. In a recent high-level review meeting, the Commission’s Full Bench expressed severe dissatisfaction with the performance of several districts regarding the seizure of unaccounted cash, liquor, and freebies. The ECI believes that the current figures of illegal asset recovery do not reflect the ground reality of potential electoral malpractice.

According to sources, the Commission has pulled up District Magistrates (DMs) and Superintendents of Police (SPs) of certain sensitive districts, particularly those sharing borders with neighboring states. The ECI noted that despite intelligence reports suggesting the flow of illegal funds to influence voters, the actual recovery rate remains surprisingly low. Officials have been warned that any negligence in enforcing the Model Code of Conduct or failing to intercept illegal transactions will result in immediate removal and disciplinary action.

The Commission has now mandated 24/7 surveillance at interstate borders and the deployment of Static Surveillance Teams (SST) and Flying Squads (FST) in greater numbers. Central agencies like the Income Tax Department and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) have been asked to step up their operations in these “underperforming” districts. The message from the ECI is loud and clear: the 2026 polls must be free from the shadow of ‘Money Power.’ Any attempt to hijack the democratic process with black money will be met with iron-fisted legal consequences.