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| Indian flash-point goes to polls |
| Voters have begun casting their ballots in the western Indian state of Gujarat to elect a new state government.
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| INDIA
, 11-December-2007
1:34:29 AM |
| In the first round of the two-phase election, 18 million voters will cast their 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 elections 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.
A tight race is predicted between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its Congress party rivals.
Voting on Tuesday is taking place in 87 of the state's 182 constituencies.
People begun queuing up outside polling centres early in the morning, and within an hour brisk polling was reported from several polling stations.
Security is tight with armed paramilitary troops and local policemen stationed out the polling stations.
Supporters of both parties are turning out in strength to vote.
Heavy security
Diamond merchant Khodidas Chalodia, who turned out 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 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 have 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.
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