Key poll in flash-point Gujarat

By Geeta Pandey
BBC News, Surat

Brisk polling was reported

Voting has taken place in the first round of elections in the western Indian state of Gujarat.

In the first leg of the two-phase poll, nearly 60% of 18 million voters cast ballots at 20,000 centres across the west and south of the state.

Round two will be on 16 December, with votes counted on 23 December.

The polls will decide the fate of chief minister Narendra Modi, whose BJP party was accused of failing to protect Muslims during religious riots in 2002.

More than 1,000 people were killed in the violence, most of them Muslims.

Voters speak out on election day In pictures

A tight race is predicted between the Hindu nationalist BJP and its Congress party rivals.

Voting on Tuesday took place in 87 of the state's 182 constituencies.

In India's diamond capital, Surat, people began queuing outside polling centres early in the morning, and within an hour brisk polling was reported from several polling stations.

Security was tight with armed paramilitary troops and local policemen stationed outside polling stations.

Supporters of both parties turned out in strength to vote.

Heavy security

Diamond merchant Khodidas Chalodia, who voted at a polling station in Varachcha, said: "The Congress party is the only one which works for the people."

BJP supporter Purshottam Shaymji Bhai, a diamond-cutter, says he had his wife have voted for the BJP because Mr Modi has "worked for our development".

The charismatic chief minister is not known to be a team player and has antagonised many of his former party colleagues

The Gujarat vote will be seen as a test for Congress, which is the ruling party nationally, and its main rival the BJP after recent speculation about a possible early general election.

More than 52,000 federal troops have been deployed to keep an eye on the polls. They will be assisted by the state police.

Leaders of the two main parties addressed dozens of rallies in the run-up to the polls.

Mr Modi's supporters say he has worked tirelessly for the development of the state, ensuring round-the-clock electricity and tap water for every home.

They say he has also built world-class roads, won billions of dollars of investment for the state, created millions of jobs and fought for education for girls and against female foeticide.

His critics say he has been unable to check inflation and rising power prices, and accuse his administration of corruption.

The charismatic chief minister is not known to be a team-player and has antagonised many of his former party colleagues.

At least two senior BJP leaders in the state - Keshubhai Patel and Suresh Mehta - have openly said they will work to ensure Mr Modi's defeat.

Poll plea

Mr Modi was the chief minister of the BJP state government at the time of the riots in February 2002. He subsequently won state elections in December of that year.

The election is mostly expected to be a referendum on Mr Modi's time in office and the campaign has at times turned nasty.

Congress party leader Sonia Gandhi has called the rulers of the state "merchants of death".

Security is tight at polling stations

And Mr Modi has been accused of condoning the killing of an innocent Muslim man, Sohrabuddin Sheikh, and his wife, both of whom Gujarat police admitted killing.

India's Election Commission has ordered both politicians to explain their remarks - before it decides whether they have violated the code of conduct.

Addressing a press conference in Gujarat's largest city, Ahmedabad, on Monday, election officials issued an "appeal to all political parties to... desist from inflaming religious or caste passions".