Why only EVMs from Gujarat for the Jammu and Kashmir elections, asks NC

Ruling National Conference today alleged that the move of Election Commission to get electronic voting machines (EVMs) from Gujarat for Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls had created unnecessary apprehensions about the fairness of forthcoming elections. "Why only EVMs from Gujarat when there are so many other states in the country?" National Conference provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani said here.

He said the reported move of getting EVMs from BJP-ruled state had created apprehensions in view of the 'Mission 44+' launched by the saffron party in the state polls, slated later this year. "Even if the EVMs are clean, there would be apprehensions about these machines as BJP had been talking about Mission 44+ in the state," Wani said. Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly has 87 elected and two nominated members, and 44 seats are required to get the majority. In 2008 elections, 11 BJP candidates were elected to the state assembly, which were held two months after the Amarnath Land row agitation that year.