Election officials study Gujarat poll

Hundreds have died in Gujarat's communal violence

A team of independent Election Commission officials has arrived in the western Indian state of Gujarat to find out whether elections can be held there.

Modi insists he is justified in seeking a new mandate

The investigation follows the resignation earlier this month of the state's Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who has called for polls seven months ahead of schedule to seek a "fresh mandate from the electorate".

Mr Modi was heavily criticised for his handling of religious violence in the state, which erupted in February after an attack on a train carrying Hindu activists in Godhra.

More than 1,000 mainly Muslims were killed in the riots, thousands of survivors lost their homes and about 12,000 people are still in relief camps.

Opposition parties are outraged at the call for early elections, saying a fair poll would be impossible given the numbers of Muslim refugees who are still too frightened to venture out to vote.

Final say

The Election Commission team has begun meeting victims, civil-rights groups, civil servants, policemen and politicians to establish whether polls could be held.

Rights groups say Muslims are too scared to vote

The commission will have the final say on whether elections can go ahead or not.

Mr Modi, who still enjoys the backing of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), insists that life in Gujarat has returned to normal.

He has also rejected allegations that his Hindu nationalist administration was complicit in the slaughter of Muslims following the Godhra attack.

The BJP itself says elections should go ahead, but the opposition wants central rule to be imposed in the state because they fear interference from Mr Modi's government.

Hindu support

Civil-rights activists maintain that elections would be a slap in the face for survivors, who are still waiting for compensation.

They also point out that thousands of people lost all their belongings, including their identity documents, in the violence and would therefore be unable to vote.

But Mr Modi insists that he is justified in seeking a fresh mandate.

Analysts say by holding early elections, Mr Modi and the BJP expect to return to power on a wave of Hindu support.