The United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala's Malappuram district has alleged an attempt at sabotage after the District Collector, who is also the District Election Officer, issued an order to open the strong room where Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were stored. The allegation was made on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
According to UDF leaders, the order to open the strong room, where EVMs from the recent Lok Sabha elections were kept, was unauthorized and raised serious concerns about the integrity of the electoral process. They demanded an explanation for the move.
In response, Malappuram District Collector and District Election Officer K. Gopalakrishnan stated that the action was taken strictly in accordance with the guidelines of the Election Commission of India. He clarified that the strong room was opened in the presence of representatives from all political parties to facilitate the process of dispatching the EVMs and other materials to their respective destinations as per the commission's post-poll procedure.
The Election Commission has established stringent protocols for the handling and storage of EVMs after polls to ensure transparency and prevent tampering. The Collector's statement emphasized that all norms were followed during the operation.
