The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) on Monday alleged that a strong room storing Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) at JDT College, Vellimadukunnu in Kozhikode, was opened without proper authority, leading to claims of election sabotage. Election officials, however, denied the claims, stating that the main strong room was not accessed, amid protests and demands for inspection.
The UDF alleged that a room near the main strong room, where EVMs for the Perambra Assembly constituency were stored, opened on Monday, 11 days after the polls without adequate notice, calling it a security lapse and a potential “conspiracy”. The Returning Officer of the Perambra assembly constituency clarified that the opened room did not contain EVMs but was accessed to update data in the ENCORE software with candidates’ agents present.
Fathima Thahiliya, the UDF candidate from Perambra, claimed the returning officer only gave an hour’s notice (8 am to 9 am on Monday) to arrive, and the room was opened by 11 am, which she termed a violation of protocols.
Congress leaders MK Raghavan MP, DCC president Praveen Kumar and others said there was an attempt to sabotage the election and they suspect extreme secrecy in the incident. Praveen Kumar said the entering of any state official or the state police personnel in the particular area amounts to violation of election commission rules. He said the returning officer claimed that it was a “material room” but such a facility cannot be set up within the inner perimeter area notified by the Commission.
The UDF demanded foolproof security, suggesting the area should be placed under BSF control, citing concerns over unauthorized access by state staff. “There has been a security breach. There was an attempt to sabotage. This area should be completely under the security of the BSF. The spare room in the vicinity of the strong room should be completely closed,” said DCC President K. Praveen Kumar.