The Delhi Assembly elections are seeing a rampant use of money, drugs, and liquor. This revelation comes from an Election Commission report, which disclosed data on various seizures. High-profile Delhi elections have already seen seizures totaling over INR 21.5 billion in cash, drugs, liquor, and other items.
The Election Commission's Data is Astonishing
As per the data, more than INR 3.864 billion in cash has been confiscated in these elections. During the 2020 assembly elections, INR 1.281 billion was seized. The current cash seizures represent a 202% increase over the previous assembly elections.
Over INR 8.8 billion worth of narcotics and drugs have been seized, which is over 1000% higher than the INR 800 million seized in the previous elections. This election also witnessed an abundance of gold and silver seizures. More than INR 3.3 billion worth of bullion was caught in the last elections, whereas, in the 2025 elections, nearly INR 8.1 billion has been seized, reflecting an increase of nearly 140% from the previous tally.
Scandal Over Alcohol Becomes an Electoral Issue
The campaigning for Delhi elections wraps up on Monday. All parties are accusing each other of using liquor to influence votes. So far, liquor worth INR 494 million has been seized compared to INR 291 million from five years ago, marking an increase of approximately 70%. These seizures showcase that not only cash but also intoxicants play a significant role in elections.
Numerous Cases Emerge
The ongoing play of money, liquor, and drugs presents a considerable challenge for the Election Commission. Nearly 2,700 criminal cases have been registered, a number which is 650 more than in the previous elections. With two days remaining until voting, the Commission's actions continue, and the numbers are expected to rise.
