Kerala Election Official Denies EVM Strong Room Tampering Allegations
Malappuram District Collector and District Election Officer Vinay Goyal issued a firm clarification on Saturday, stating that allegations regarding the handling of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) strong rooms in the district are baseless and factually incorrect. The statement comes in direct response to claims made by the United Democratic Front (UDF), which had accused the district election officer of ordering the opening of strong rooms in violation of established election protocols.
Detailed Refutation of UDF Claims
Goyal emphasized that all EVMs used for polling in Malappuram district were sealed immediately after the close of poll and securely shifted on the same day to their respective constituency strong rooms. These rooms were then sealed by the returning officers in the presence of candidates and political party representatives. The entire process has been completely videographed, and comprehensive CCTV surveillance is in place to ensure transparency and security. Additionally, the strong rooms are protected under a three-tier security system, which includes permanent deployment of Central Armed Police Forces personnel to prevent any unauthorized access.
Background of the Allegations
The UDF, through its district chairman K P Abdul Majeed, had alleged that the collector issued instructions via a WhatsApp group of returning officers to remove unused Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines from the strong rooms. Majeed further claimed that a follow-up message was sent retracting the directive after the issue gained public attention, suggesting potential misconduct or procedural lapses.
Clarification on Standard Procedures
In refuting these claims, Collector Goyal clarified that only unpolled reserve EVMs, which were not used at any point during the polling process, were involved. As per established Election Commission of India (ECI) guidelines, these reserve machines are typically transferred to the district EVM warehouse after duly informing representatives of political parties. Goyal stressed that this is a standard procedure followed in all elections to ensure proper management of election materials and maintain integrity. He reiterated that no protocols were breached, and all actions were conducted with full transparency and adherence to ECI norms.
The clarification aims to uphold public trust in the electoral process, amidst concerns raised by political parties. The district administration continues to monitor the situation closely, ensuring that all election-related activities comply with legal and procedural requirements to safeguard democratic principles.
