DMK, AIADMK cadres to keep vigil on EVM storage centres
Political parties in Tamil Nadu, including DMK and AIADMK, have decided to maintain round-the-clock vigil at strong rooms storing EVMs ahead of vote counting. Security has been tightened with CCTV monitoring and deployment of armed forces across the state
Chennai: As the EC shifted EVMs to strong rooms following polling on April 23, political parties including the ruling DMK and the AIADMK have decided to maintain a 24/7 shift-based vigil at the designated centres.
Ahead of the May 4 counting of polled votes, the Election Commission has shifted the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPATs) to the strong rooms.
Though multiple security systems, including Central Armed Police Forces and Tamil Nadu Special Police teams, were in place, political parties have deployed their cadres to ensure the safety of EVMs.
R M Babu Murugavel, Joint Secretary, AIADMK Legal Wing, told PTI that “our cadres will be on the campus round the clock on a shift basis where the EVMs and VVPATs are stored”.
Stating that all the entry and exit points will be monitored thoroughly, he said strong rooms will be guarded till counting starts on May 4.
“We have also ensured safe drinking water facilities and food supply to our cadres, who will be ensuring the safety of EVMs and VVPATs,” G Venkatesan, a senior DMK functionary of Pallavaram constituency in Chennai, said.
He said that the party workers, who will be “on duty” near the strong rooms, were given ID cards. “We have also instructed our cadres to be friendly with other political parties’ functionaries so that there will be smooth monitoring activities,” he added.
Election Commission (EC) sources here said that the strong rooms have been sealed in the presence of political party representatives and election observers with required documentation and video recording. Besides deploying armed forces, CCTV cameras have been installed in all the strong rooms across the state and they would be monitored round the clock.
A senior official said that the state election authorities have given permission with certain terms and conditions for representatives of political parties to keep vigil on the strong rooms where the EVMs are stored.
Elections to 234 Assembly segments in Tamil Nadu were held on Thursday.
The DMK, which heads the Secular Progressive Alliance, is seeking to retain power and is leading a multi-party coalition that includes Congress, Left parties and the VCK.
The AIADMK, heading the National Democratic Alliance, on the other hand, is pushing for a return to power with allies BJP, AMMK and PMK, among others, in tow.
Actor Vijay-led TVK is attempting to break the decades-long tradition of DMK and AIADMK alternatively ruling the state and form its government.
