Controversy in Kerala over polling material room access, CEO intervenes
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Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Dr Rathan U Kelkar directed on Tuesday that no strong rooms or unsealed polling material rooms be opened before vote counting, following controversies in Kozhikode and Palakkad.
The order came after Monday's opening of an unsealed room at Kozhikode's JDT Complex, storing Perambra constituency materials—not EVMs—sparked Congress protests. IUML candidate Fathima Thahilya alleged premature access near the strong room.
District Collector and Election Officer clarified the room held documents for ENCORE portal updates, mandated by April 20. It was accessed to verify presiding officers' diaries against software data; EVMs and VVPATs remained secure in strong rooms.
A similar Palakkad incident at Government Victoria College—involving Nenmara materials and a presiding officer's diary—drew protests. District Collector M S Madhavikutty halted it.
CEO Kelkar reiterated: " It has been reiterated that under no circumstances shall any strong rooms or unsealed rooms be opened or accessed for the purpose of preparing Index Cards or verifying data in the ENCORE portal. All concerned officers have been directed to ensure strict compliance with these instructions in order to safeguard the integrity, transparency, and security of the electoral process." All District Election Officers and Returning Officers must ensure compliance to protect electoral integrity.
Perambra pits LDF's senior CPI(M) leader T P Ramakrishnan against Thahilya.