Congress, UDF to move High Court against Perambra, Koyilandy returning officers

The Congress and the United Democratic Front (UDF) are planning to seek legal action against the returning officers of Perambra and Koyilandy Assembly constituencies in Kozhikode district for what they termed as the “unauthorised opening” of polling material rooms at JDT Islam Education Complex in Kozhikode city recently.

K. Praveenkumar, District Congress Committee (DCC) president, told the media on Thursday that even though the UDF had sought action against the two officials, nothing had been done so far. The Congress leader alleged that it was a lapse on the part of the District Collector, who is also the District Election Officer, to have set up the polling materials room adjacent to the strong room where electronic voting machines (EVM) are kept. Mr. Praveenkumar said that the Chief Electoral Officer had issued a direction not to open any room in places where EVMs are kept following the controversy over the alleged opening of the polling material room by the returning officer for Perambra. Despite this order, the returning officer for Koyilandy had reached the premises, Mr. Praveenkumar claimed.