India's Hindu nationalists take lead in Gujarat poll

India's main opposition Hindu nationalist party was leading this month's crucial polls in religiously divided Gujarat state after vote counting got underway Sunday, television reports said.

Thousands of electoral workers were at counting sites across the state, with the official results of the elections held earlier this month expected by midday (0630 GMT), the Press Trust of India news agency said.

"About 8,000 personnel will be involved in the process," state electoral officer A. H. Manek told the agency.

"Every table will have a central government officer as an observer. After completion of each round of counting, the observers will randomly select two electronic voting machines and recheck the votes polled for the parties."

Two hours into counting, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)whose controversial leader Narendra Modi rules the statewas projected ahead in more than 100 districts, reports said.

Analysts said the results showed a slightly closer outcome.

New Delhi, Sunday, AFP