Strongrooms must not be opened till counting ends, says Kerala CEO Rathan Kelkar over recent controversies

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM/PALAKKAD: Chief electoral officer (CEO) Rathan Kelkar issued a directive on Tuesday that strongrooms at all counting centres must not be opened under any circumstances until the counting process is over. He also made it clear that even unsealed rooms should remain closed.

"We are reiterating that under no circumstances shall any strongrooms or unsealed rooms be opened or accessed for the purpose of preparing index cards or verifying data in ENCORE portal. All officers have been directed to ensure strict compliance with these instructions in order to safeguard the integrity, transparency and security of the electoral process," said Kelkar.

The order came in the backdrop of recent controversies in Kozhikode and Palakkad. The CEO sought an explanation for the decision to open the materials strongroom in Palakkad. On Monday, a controversy arose after UDF alleged that an election strongroom in Vellimadukunnu was opened in violation of guidelines even as district election officer Snehil Kumar Singh clarified that the strongroom containing EVMs and postal ballots was never opened.

On Tuesday, Election Commission (EC) dropped its initial decision to open a strongroom at Govt Victoria College following strong protest from UDF leaders. The move aimed to retrieve a diary reportedly left behind by a presiding officer on polling day. However, reports that the strongroom housing EVMs from Nemmara would be opened on Tuesday morning triggered a political controversy.

Collector and district election officer M S Madhavikutty clarified that there was no plan to open the sealed strongroom containing EVMs. She said only the adjacent materials strongroom was being considered for opening to retrieve documents, including Form 17A, which contains voter registers. She said the decision to open the room was dropped following directive from the CEO after misleading reports surfaced. "No action will be taken to open any room until Election Commission gives a directive," she said.

She reiterated that reports about opening EVM strongrooms were incorrect. "Only the adjacent materials room was considered to retrieve Form 17A. The returning officer (RO) had informed all candidates in advance through written communication in line with EC's RO manual. Representatives of candidates and videography teams were also present," she added.

Meanwhile, UDF leaders opposed the move, alleging irregularities. "EC must explain why there is a need to open the strongroom all of a sudden. A highly-secure facility cannot be opened arbitrarily citing forgotten items. Such actions raise suspicions," said DCC president A Thankappan.

Meanwhile, UDF intensified its protest over Kozhikode strongroom row even as the collector is expected to submit an explanation regarding the allegations that the strongroom was opened without authorisation at JDT Islam Convention Centre in Vellimadukunnu. Although officials clarified that only a reserve room was opened, UDF maintained that due procedures were not followed for the same.


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