Rajyasri Rao BBC correspondent in Delhi

Pre-election security is tight in several states

The states of Himachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Tripura and Meghalaya elect their new legislative assemblies on Wednesday.

In most states, the polls are turning out to be a contest between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the main opposition Congress party.

Campaigning in the northern hilly state of Himachal Pradesh was marked by the presence of senior leaders, including Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and his deputy LK Advani, seeking the BJP's re-election in the state.

The Congress party on the other hand is seeking to get re-elected in the north-eastern state of Nagaland, aiming to oust the governing Marxists in Tripura, and hoping to emerge as the single largest party in Meghalaya.

Accusations

Correspondents say the BJP is trying to repeat its victory in Gujarat where it was returned to power with a large majority following violent communal riots.

BJP leaders campaigned in Himachal Pradesh

Mr Vajpayee followed up that victory by reshuffling both his cabinet and the party leadership to ensure high-profile figures would be free to campaign for the polls.

Heavy security is already in place in anticipation of violence in the two states of Nagaland and Tripura.

The governing Congress party in Nagaland says that the separatist National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) is trying to influence the electorate against it.

And in Tripura, the ruling Marxists say the Congress-led alliance has secured the backing of the underground National Liberation Front of Tripura.