Final poll round for Indian state

Narendra Modi is widely praised by Gujarat's Hindu population

People in the Indian state of Gujarat have voted in the second round of an election to choose state lawmakers.

In the first round of voting nearly 60% of 18 million voters cast ballots at 20,000 centres across the west and south of the state.

On Sunday, the voters elected 95 of 182 members in Gujarat's legislature, with the Hindu nationalist Chief Minister Narendra Modi seeking re-election.

His party, the BJP, was accused of allowing religious riots in 2002.

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

Mr Modi has been accused of failing to protect Gujarat's Muslims during the unrest.

Security was tight during Sunday's polling, with more than 50,000 police deployed across the state.

Turnout

Reports said voting was slow, with few making it to polling stations early in the day.

"Voting is slow but it is a holiday so people will come out at a leisurely pace. We are expecting a good turnout," chief electoral officer V K Babbar told Reuters news agency.

The BJP overwhelmingly won Gujarat's last election, held in the aftermath of the violence, winning 128 seats compared to just 51 for Congress, its arch-rival.

The first round of voting saw elections held in 87 of the state's 182 constituencies.

Results are not expected for another week, with Mr Modi the favourite to retain power.