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According to reports, the Kazhakoottam district administration tried to open the strong room where a damaged voting machine was stored. Following the protest by BJP and UDF workers, the returning officer withdrew from the attempt.
The political parties came to know about the move only an hour before the opening of the strong room where the ballots of the Kazhakoottam constituency are kept. However, the officials withdrew from the decision following intensive protest from UDF and BJP.
SS Lal, the UDF candidate from the constituency reportedly said that only BJP and UDF candidates have a disagreement over the opening of a strong room. He even alleged that there is some conspiracy as normally once the strong room is sealed, it will be opened on the counting day.
He further alleged that the move to change the damaged voting machine seems suspicious since there are no elections very soon. Even BJP too claimed that the bureaucrats and the ruling party are behind the attempt to open strong room.