With Lok Sabha polls next year and assembly elections round the corner in some key states, the government cleared a proposal on Thursday to procure 1.80 lakh Electronic Voting Machines.
The proposal to procure additional EVMs was approved at a meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The Cabinet gave its approval to make a provision of Rs 190 crore as requested by the Election Commission for this purpose, Information and Broadcasting Minister P R Dasmunsi told reporters after the meeting.
Assembly polls to states including Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh are due later this year while the Lok Polls are scheduled early next year.
Meanwhile the Election commission of India continued to hold discussions on the possible scenario in Jammu and Kashmir.
"We were asked some questions to which we replied. Now it is for the commission to decide when to hold the elections. We will carry out the orders and hold elections as and when directed to do so ," Khuda told rediff.com before leaving.
While Mehbooba Mufti, president of Peoples Democratic Party is not in favour of holding elections soon, former chief minister Gulam Nabi Azad is relectuant to lead the Congress once more in the Valley. Azad has left for Jammu to prepare for the elections per the directive of Sonia Gandhi.
The EC is likely to visit Srinagar, Jammu and Ladakh and will meet governor N N Vohra, and members of the security forces before taking a final decision on when the polls can be held.
Additional Reportage: PTI
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