The Election Commission of India (ECI) has designated six out of 42 Lok Sabha constituencies in Bengal as financially sensitive.
The six constituencies are Malda North, Malda South, Darjeeling, Asansol, North Calcutta and Bongaon.
The decision to mark these constituencies as "financially sensitive" comes in the backdrop of a continuous rise in the seizure of illegal substances and cash in Bengal in the past few elections.
According to the data provided by the commission, illegal cash seizures amounted to Rs 18.93 crore in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and increased to Rs 44.33 crore in the 2016 Assembly polls. The figure further rose to Rs 118.04 crore in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The trend continued in the 2021 Assembly elections with cash seizures reaching a staggering Rs 300.11 crore.
“Bengal has many districts which share borders with Bangladesh and Nepal. This makes the state financially vulnerable because there is a possibility of the inflow of illegal cash and drugs from the neighbouring countries. We need to stem the flow to make the elections free and fair,” a senior official in the Chief Electoral Officer’s (CEO's) office in Calcutta said.
According to officials, the commission will have additional vigil on the six constituencies to check for illegal drugs, liquor or cash.
“The borders will be sealed and there will be additional checking at all entry and exit points. There will be CCTV surveillance at all the checkposts. Additional forces will be deployed to assist financial observers,” the official said.
The commission has already engaged financial agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Income Tax (IT) department and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) to probe illegal financial transactions and mark expenditure-sensitive constituencies. They will investigate the illegal flow of cash through international borders and monitor banking transactions.
The ECI has created a portal with 20 enforcement agencies, including those of central and state governments, for a coordinated approach rather than working in silos for earmarking expenditure-sensitive constituencies.
“Bengal was historically considered to be a financially non-sensitive state but in the last two elections, the seizure amount was substantially high and so the commission decided to attach the ED to look into the illegal financial flow in the state. The ED will submit its report to the election management committee set up by the ECI,” a senior official of the commission said.