A recent disruption in the surveillance mechanism at the strongroom of Arignar Anna Government Arts College in Villupuram has sparked concerns over the integrity of the electoral process in Tamil Nadu. This incident marks the third reported disruption in the state within the last six days, highlighting vulnerabilities in the security measures ahead of the upcoming counting day on June 4th.On Friday, officials revealed that the live streaming of the strongroom in Villupuram was interrupted for nearly 30 minutes due to power fluctuations. The disruption, attributed to erratic power supply, led to the malfunctioning of the UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply) system connected to the CCTV cameras monitoring the sealed doors of the strongroom. The strongroom currently houses Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines, crucial components of the electoral process.
Reacting promptly to the situation, Collector C Palani rushed to the counting center and initiated measures to rectify the issue. Additionally, officials from the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) were summoned to inspect and stabilize the power supply to the counting center. The live streaming service was successfully restored by 9:58 am, alleviating immediate concerns about surveillance integrity.
In response to the incident, Collector Palani emphasized the need for uninterrupted and reliable power supply to the center, crucial for maintaining the transparency and security of the electoral process. To mitigate future risks, officials have implemented additional live-streaming measures to supplement existing surveillance systems, aiming to prevent similar disruptions in the future.
Candidate D Ravikumar of the VCK party, who raised concerns about the incident, petitioned the district collector to take appropriate measures to safeguard against such occurrences leading up to the counting day in June.