Controversy over opening rooms storing polling material in Kerala, CEO steps in

Weather ePaper Today’s Paper Journalism of Courage Home ePaper Politics Explained Opinion India Business Premium Cities UPSC Entertainment Sports World Lifestyle Tech Subscribe Sign In TrendingMumbai NewsDelhi NewsChandigarh NewsBangalore NewsLucknow News Advertisement function checkAndLoadWindowSizeScript() { if (window.jQuery) { // jQuery is loaded, include your script jQuery(document).ready(function($) { // Your existing script for checking window width if (window.innerWidth) var page_w = window.innerWidth; else if (document.all) var page_w = document.body.clientWidth; if (page_w > 1024) { $(".add-left, .add-right").show(); } else { $(".add-left, .add-right").hide(); } }); } else { // jQuery is not loaded, check again after 0.2 seconds setTimeout(checkAndLoadWindowSizeScript, 200); } } // Initial call to the function checkAndLoadWindowSizeScript(); NewsIndiaControversy over opening rooms storing polling material in Kerala, CEO steps in Controversy over opening rooms storing polling material in Kerala, CEO steps in Chief Electoral Officer issues direction that any strong room or unsealed room should not be opened till the counting of votes Written by: Shaju Philip3 min readThiruvanananthapuramApr 22, 2026 07:16 AM IST On Monday, one of the rooms at a building in Kozhikode, where materials used for the Assembly elections were kept under guard, was opened. Congress had protested against the opening of the room. Make us preferred source on Google Whatsapp twitter Facebook Reddit PRINT Following a controversy in Kerala over the opening of a room where polling material was stored, the state’s Chief Electoral Officer on Tuesday issued a direction that any strong room or unsealed room should not be opened till the counting of votes. On Monday, one of the rooms at a building in Kozhikode, where materials used for the Assembly elections were kept under guard, was opened. Congress had protested against the opening of the room. The Kozhikode District Election Officer clarified that the room that was opened was not a strong room where EVMs are kept, but only an unsealed room where polling materials were stored. On Tuesday, a similar move in Palakkad district also turned controversial, prompting the Chief Electoral Officer, Dr Rathan U Kelkar, to issue directions to all the District Election Officers and Returning Officers regarding the counting protocols. The CEO said, “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.” In Kozhikode, the polling materials room opened was related to the Assembly constituency, Perambra, where LDF convener and senior CPI(M) leader T P Ramakrishnan is contesting against the IUML’s Fathima Thahilya. On Monday morning, she was informed that a room close to the strongroom would be opened for updating poll data. She alleged that when she reached the spot, the room had already been opened. The District Collector, who is also the District Election Officer, clarified that along with EVMs and VVPATs from Perambra, certain documents, which the returning officer should maintain, were also brought to the JDT Complex, which houses strongrooms. These materials were not kept in the strong room. As per the Election Commission directive, the final approval of the data in the ENCORE software was to be completed by April 20. Hence, the room was opened to verify and update the information in ENCORE by cross-checking it with the details recorded in the diaries of the presiding officers in the Perambra constituency, the official said. In Palakkad district, there was an attempt to open a room at the Government Victoria College, where polling materials of the Nenmara Assembly constituency were kept. It was alleged that a presiding officer had kept his diary in the room. After Congress protested against the move, District Collector M S Madhavikutty decided not to open any room associated with elections. Shaju Philip is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, where he leads the publication's coverage from Kerala. With over 25 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political, religious, and developmental landscape of South India. Expertise, Experience, and Authority Decades of Regional Specialization: Shaju has spent more than two decades documenting the "Kerala Model" of development, its complex communal dynamics, and its high-stakes political environment. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive reporting portfolio includes: Political & Governance Analysis: In-depth tracking of the LDF and UDF coalitions, the growth of the BJP in the state, and the intricate workings of the Kerala administration. Crime & Investigative Journalism: Noted for his coverage of high-profile cases such as the gold smuggling probe, political killings, and the state’s counter-terrorism efforts regarding radicalization modules. Crisis Management: He has led ground-level reporting during major regional crises, including the devastating 2018 floods, the Nipah virus outbreaks, and the Covid-19 pandemic response. ... Read More Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram