Election Commission Reactivates Economic Intelligence Panel After Six Years to Combat Electoral Malpractice

New Delhi:

The Election Commission has revived its economic intelligence panel after six years to combat the influence of money, liquor, and drugs on voters before the Bihar elections.

On Friday, the Multi-Departmental Committee on Election Intelligence (MDCEI) convened for the first time since 2019 to refine strategies for enforcement agencies and central police forces aimed at preventing the use of monetary influence and freebies to manipulate voters in Bihar's upcoming polls.

This committee was originally established in 2014 prior to that year's general elections.

According to officials, while the committee met regularly before elections between 2014 and 2019, formal meetings ceased thereafter. Agency heads and security forces continued to meet informally to devise strategies against financial manipulation in elections. Friday's meeting represented a significantly expanded gathering.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners S S Sandhu and Vivek Joshi attended the meeting.

The committee comprises 17 departments including the Central Board of Direct Taxes, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, Enforcement Directorate, Department of Revenue Intelligence, Central Economic Intelligence Bureau, Financial Intelligence Unit – India, Reserve Bank of India, Indian Banks' Association, Narcotics Control Bureau, Railway Protection Force, Central Industrial Security Force, Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Sashastra Seema Bal, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, Airports Authority of India, and the Department of Posts.

The meeting focused on developing a comprehensive strategy to counter the harmful effects of cash and other inducements during elections.

Various agencies briefed the commission about their preparations, implemented measures, and proposed actions to ensure inducement-free elections. The briefings covered a wide spectrum of topics related to preventing the use of money and other enticements that could compromise electoral integrity, according to the EC.

Commission officials emphasized the importance of cooperation and intelligence sharing regarding economic offenses among law enforcement agencies to facilitate effective action.