The Election Commission reports that illicit inducements worth roughly ₹1,400–₹1,445 crore are seized during the 2026 assembly elections. According to coverage, the data is compared with seizure figures from the 2021 elections for corresponding categories or periods. West Bengal records the largest year-on-year rise in seizures, with an increase of 68.92% compared with the 2021 baseline. Tamil Nadu also shows a substantial increase, with seizures rising by 48.40% over the corresponding 2021 figures. While the two outlets differ slightly in the total amount reported—NDTV citing ₹1,445 crore and The Hindu quoting ₹1,400 crore—the overall picture is consistent: the poll body’s seizure figures for 2026 are in the range of about ₹1.4 thousand crore and show higher seizure activity than in 2021. The reports focus on state-wise percentage increases, highlighting West Bengal and Tamil Nadu as the top movers in the comparative data.