Kerala polls: After Perambra row, Election Commission orders strongrooms not to be opened before counting day

The Election Commission on Tuesday (April 21, 2026) issued clear directions to all District Election Officers and Returning Officers in Kerala not to open any strongrooms “under any circumstances” before the day the votes are counted.

The direction was issued by Kerala Chief Electoral Officer Rathan U. Kelkar following reports of a strongroom storing EVMs in Perambra constituency in Kozhikode being opened on Monday, and reported plans to open another one in Nenmara constituency in Palakkad.