A complaint lodged by the Congress-led UDF in Kozhikode alleged that a strongroom containing voting machines was opened, causing a brief period of tension and confusion in Vellimadukunnu. The UDF leaders expressed concerns about possible election manipulation, but officials later clarified that there was no breach of security. The incident revolved around the strongroom at JDT Islam College, where EVMs from seven constituencies are securely stored.
The Congress leaders, including MP M.K. Raghavan and District Congress Committee President Praveen Kumar, raised suspicions of a serious security lapse and called for a thorough investigation. They feared potential tampering with the electoral process and demanded heightened security measures, such as central forces taking control and sealing off adjacent areas. However, election authorities promptly refuted the allegations, confirming that the strongroom with EVMs remained sealed and untouched.
Officials explained that the room that was accessed was a “materials room” for storing polling-related items, not the actual strongroom. The Returning Officer clarified that the room was opened for routine inspection of polling materials for the Perambra constituency in the presence of political party representatives. UDF candidate Fathima Tehlia mentioned being informed about the incident in the morning but arrived after the process was completed, leading to further confusion.
Despite the protest and accusations, officials maintained that the misunderstanding arose from confusing the materials room with the strongroom. The elections for the 140 Assembly constituencies in Kerala took place on April 9, with vote counting scheduled for May 4. Authorities assured that a robust three-tier security system is in place to protect the strongrooms, emphasizing that the integrity of the stored voting machines remains uncompromised.
