The main opposition parties in India have supported the Election Commission's decision to delay voting in the troubled state of Gujarat.

The BJP should not be allowed to exploit communal passions in the state

Amar Singh, opposition spokesman

Four of the six national political parties which were sent notices on the issue by the country's Supreme Court on Monday said the situation was too unstable for the polls to be held there.

Religious rioting racked the state earlier this year leaving about 1,000 people dead, according to official estimates.

Facing growing clamour from critics for his resignation, Gujarat's Chief Minister Narendra Modi dissolved the state assembly last month ahead of schedule to seek a fresh mandate from the electorate.

But the country's independent Election Commission said free and fair elections were not possible there at the moment.

Court intervention

The country's main ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which also governs in Gujarat, does not agree with the commission.

The Indian cabinet asked the President, APJ Abdul Kalam, to seek legal advice from the Supreme Court and the president referred the dispute to the court.

On Monday, the court issued notices requesting the opinions of six main parties, the states, the central government and the Election Commission itself.

BJP spokesman Sunil Shastri said the Gujarat government had a right to seek an early mandate.

"The situation is normal and conducive for polls", he told BBC News Online.

But the opposition Samajwadi Party disagreed. A senior leader of the party, Amar Singh, said, "elections in Gujarat could not be held now".

"The BJP should not be allowed to exploit communal passions in the state", Mr Singh told the BBC.

He also criticised Gujarat's Chief Minister Narendra Modi for his recent remarks against the Election Commission.

Democracy 'at risk'

The National Secretary of the Communist Party of India, D Raja, said his party supported the commission's view that polls could not held in Gujarat now.

The president asked the Supreme Court to decide

"The Election Commission is a constitutional authority and its assessment of the situation in Gujarat should be respected", Mr Raja said.

He said the BJP was trying to manoeuvre the situation and that this "could put democracy at risk."

Another left-leaning party - the Communist Party of India Marxist - expressed similar views.

But the main opposition Congress Party evaded the issue on Monday.

A Congress spokesman said the party would not say anything as the issue was before the court. But he said there was no change in the party's stand.

The Congress Party was among the first to oppose early elections in the state.

Instead, it has been demanding the imposition of central rule in Gujarat.