DMK and AIADMK Deploy Round-the-Clock Security at EVM Strong Rooms Ahead of Tamil Nadu 2026 Assembly Vote Counting

Political parties in Tamil Nadu have deployed round-the-clock security at strong rooms where Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) units are stored following the conclusion of polling in the 2026 Assembly elections.

The Election Commission of India completed the transfer of sealed EVMs and VVPATs to designated strong rooms after voting ended on April 23, 2026, across all 234 Assembly constituencies. As per standard protocol, the machines were moved under heavy security arrangements involving central armed police forces and state special police teams.

Despite the official security cover, major political parties including the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the main opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) have decided to maintain their own vigil to ensure the safety and integrity of the voting machines.

R M Babu Murugavel, Joint Secretary of the AIADMK Legal Wing, confirmed that party cadres would be deployed in shifts to monitor the strong rooms continuously. “Our cadres will be in the campus round-the-clock on shift basis where the EVMs and VVPAT were stored,” he told PTI.

G Venkatesan, a senior DMK functionary from Pallavaram constituency in Chennai, stated that the party had also arranged for basic amenities for its personnel on duty. “We have also ensured pure drinking water facilities and food supply to our cadres, who will be ensuring the safety of EVMs and VVPATs,” he said, adding that party workers had been issued identity cards for access to the sites.

The vigil is being maintained ahead of the vote counting scheduled for May 4, 2026. Election Commission sources confirmed that the strong rooms have been sealed in the presence of political party representatives and election observers, with required documentation and video recording completed as part of the protocol.

Both major parties emphasized that their monitoring efforts are aimed at ensuring transparency and preventing any tampering with the electoral process. The AIADMK representative stressed that all entry and exit points would be monitored thoroughly, while the DMK functionary highlighted efforts to maintain cordial coordination with other parties’ personnel to facilitate smooth oversight.