Millions of Indians are preparing to vote in a local assembly election billed as the first real test of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popularity.

Mr Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded former policewoman Kiran Bedi as its pick for chief minister.

But polls suggest she is likely to lose to Arvind Kejriwal, an anti-corruption activist who heads his own party.

Mr Modi won convincingly in last summer's general election, and has ridden a wave of popularity ever since.

Over 13 million people are eligible to vote at 12,000 polling centres.

Security is tight and more than 55,000 police and paramilitary are deployed for Saturday's vote.

Official results for the 70-member state assembly are due on Tuesday.

(BBC)