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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Indian flash-point goes to polls | Indian flash-point goes to polls |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Voters are casting their ballots in the western Indian state of Gujarat to elect a new state government. | |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | Supporters of both parties are turning out in strength to vote. |
| Heavy security | 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." | 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". | 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 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 | Poll plea |
| The election is mostly expected to be a referendum on Mr Modi's five-year term in office and the campaign has at times turned nasty. | The election is mostly expected to be a referendum on Mr Modi's five-year term 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". | Congress party leader Sonia Gandhi has called the rulers of the state "merchants of death". |
| Security is tight at polling stationsAnd Mr Modi's has been accused of condoning the killing of an innocent Muslim man, Sohrabuddin Sheikh, who Gujarat police have admitted shooting dead in a staged gun battle. | Security is tight at polling stationsAnd Mr Modi's has been accused of condoning the killing of an innocent Muslim man, Sohrabuddin Sheikh, who Gujarat police have admitted shooting dead in a staged gun battle. |
| India's Election Commission has ordered both politicians to explain their remarks - before it decides whether they have violated the code of conduct. | 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". | 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". |