Violence mars Gujarat campaign

The deaths in Mahudha, a town north-west of the commercial capital, Ahmedabad, came as Chief Minister Narendra Modi took to the hustings.

He travelled to the town of Godhra, where communal violence broke out in February this year, and delivered an appeal to the Hindu faithful.

Security is being increased across Gujarat for the elections to prevent any recurrence of the religious riots which swept the state in February, killing at least 1,000 people, mainly Muslims.

The violence, India's worst in a decade, began after the burning to death of 58 Hindu activists on a train in Godhra.

"The entire trouble in Godhra started because Hindu activists chanted Jai Shri Ram [Long Live Ram]," Mr Modi told thousands of cheering supporters in the town.

"Are they wrong to chant religious slogans in our country?"

'Gimmicks'

The elections are being seen as a crucial test for the main party in India's governing coalition, the Bharatiya Janata Party, which is also in power in Gujarat.

The BJP lost a humiliating string of state elections this year and faces another round next spring, ahead of general elections due by 2004.

The party has dismissed allegations that it is trying to cash in on religious sentiment in Gujarat, which has a long history of religious violence.

But opposition parties accuse it of crude political gimmicks to mobilise Hindu voters.

The main opposition Congress party is seeking to capitalise on voters who want an end to the violence and the economic disruption it has caused.

Poll arrangements

Monday's deaths coincided with a visit to Gujarat by the head of India's independent Election Commission, JM Lyngdoh, to review preparations for the elections.

The commission has said tens of thousands of paramilitary troops will be deployed.

It prevented the BJP calling snap elections in the summer, saying the state's wounds had not healed after the riots.

Speaking in Ahmedabad on Monday, Mr Lyngdoh said the commission was considering banning a proposed march by Hindu hardliners.

He also said that special arrangements were being made so that those displaced by the religious violence could cast their votes.

Polling booths are to be set up near refugee camps and those who sought shelter in other states will be able to vote by post.

The BJP held 114 seats in the outgoing 182-seat assembly. Congress had 64 and independents four.