Polls have opened in three Indian states in what is the first major test for the country’s political parties after the general elections in April. Voting is being held in the states of Maharashtra, Haryana and tiny Arunachal Pradesh in the north-east.
Security is tight in Maharashtra, which faced Maoist violence last week.
The elections will be the first major test of strength for the Congress party-led federal government, which has completed nearly six months in power.
All the three states where polls have been called are currently ruled by the Congress party.
Maharashtra is one of India’s most important states. Its capital, Mumbai (Bombay), is the country’s financial centre.
Over 100,000 security forces have been deployed in the state to ensure peaceful polling, the police said.
‘Incursions’
Last week, Maoist rebels killed 17 policemen in an ambush in the Gadchiroli area on Maharashtra last week.
The Congress is hoping to get elected to power in the state for a third consecutive term with its regional ally NCP.
In the northern state of Haryana, the Congress is seeking a second term in office against a divided opposition, correspondents say.
Polling in the early hours of Tuesday in north-eastern Arunachal Pradesh, was brisk and long queues of voters were seen before booths even in remote hill areas, says the BBC’s Subir Bhaumik in Calcutta.
Large parts of this state are claimed by China and border tensions created by Chinese “incursions” have dominated the poll campaign.
Three lawmakers of the state’s ruling Congress party, including Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, have been elected unopposed.
Now polling is on for the remaining 57 seats of the Arunachal Pradesh assembly.
Counting of votes will take place on 22 October.