UDF’s ‘surveillance squad’ keeps round-the-clock watch on EVM strongroom

For a small group of United Democratic Front (UDF) activists in Kalamassery, ‘election work’ is far from over even after polling on April 9.

After weeks of campaigning, they are now tasked with guarding the people’s mandate until counting day on May 4, by monitoring CCTV footage from the strongroom at Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat), where electronic voting machines (EVMs) from the constituency are stored.

The UDF deployed the surveillance team after the Election Commission allowed political party representatives to watch live CCTV feeds from strongrooms, addressing concerns over possible electoral malpractices. Kalamassery saw a closely fought contest between Industries Minister P. Rajeeve of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the UDF’s V.E. Abdul Gafoor.