Kerala Assembly Elections 2026: Commotion at Koorkenchery as woman with bandaged index finger denied permission to vote

Tension erupted at Koorkenchery as a woman was initially denied the right to vote due to a bandaged finger.

Tension prevailed at Koorkenchery in Thrissur after a young woman was denied the permission to vote due to a bandaged finger, triggering hours of protest at the booth.

The incident occurred at a polling station set up at Swami Bodhananda School at Koorkenchery, where Akshaya, a resident of Kannankulangara, was prevented from casting her vote as she had a bandage on her left index finger.

Ms. Akshaya had reportedly suffered an injury on April 6 after her hand got caught in a mixer grinder. Following treatment, her index finger—the finger on which indelible ink is usually applied after casting a vote—remained bandaged.

When she arrived at the booth around 1:30 p.m., the presiding officer refused to allow her to vote, stating that ink could not be applied on the injured finger. Even though she returned later with medical documents, the presiding officer allegedly remained firm in denying permission.

“I had a genuine injury, but the presiding officer refused to believe me. Even after showing the medical report, I was not allowed to vote,” Ms. Akshaya said. “I was told I could vote only if I removed the bandage and showed the wound.”

The denial sparked a protest at the booth, with Ms. Akshaya staging a sit-in along with her son. LDF leaders, including V.S. Sunil Kumar, reached the spot and demanded that she be allowed to vote and that the ink be applied on another finger. However, officials did not relent.