Voting has taken place amid heavy security in the northern Indian state of Punjab to elect officials to a powerful Sikh religious body.

It is basically a fight between Advani and Sonia Gandhi,

Sikh politician Simranjit Singh

Sitting president Kirpal Singh Badungar retained his post at the head of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), which controls more than 250 Sikh shrines and institutes in India.

Thousands of security officials were on standby at the historic Golden Temple in the city of Amritsar, as the vote took place amid bitter acrimony between rival Sikh groups.

Dozens of supporters of both leaders were detained on Sunday to prevent clashes.

Sikhs 'to lose'

Mr Badungar was the nominee of former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and defeated the candidate of a rival group led by Gurcharan Singh Tohra.

Tempers ran high ahead of the vote

The SGPC is politically influential in Punjab because it has the power to appoint senior Sikh clerics, including the head priest of the Golden Temple.

But this year's contest acquired greater significant with the mainstream Congress and BJP throwing their weight behind the rival camps.

While the Congress backed the Gurcharan Singh Tohra group, the BJP is a close ally of Mr Badal.

"It is basically a fight between [deputy prime minister] LK Advani and [opposition leader] Sonia Gandhi," Sikh politician Simranjit Singh Mann told the BBC.

"Whatever the result, the Sikhs stand to lose."

Heavy security

The Punjab state government, which is led by the Congress Party, deployed unprecedented security measures in Amritsar and around the Golden Temple complex.

Thousands of personnel took up positions on the approaches to the Teja Singh Samundari Hall, where the vote was held.

While the state government said the security measures were necessary to ensure a free and fair election, Mr Badal has complained that the government's actions constitute an illegal interference in the religious affairs of the Sikhs.

The run-up to the election saw both side trade charges of intimidation against the other, raising fears of violence.