Something fishy in the election (3)

I believe the answer is:

eel

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'something fishy' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'in the election' is the wordplay.
'in' says the answer is hidden in the clue.
'EEL' can be found hidden inside 'the election'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for eel that I've seen before include "Long thin fish" , "Apode" , "Moray or electric, for instance" , "Sea creature like conger" , "Slender fish" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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