With the voters in his state heading to the polls

India's prime minister faces a test of popularity

Modi faces a difficult test in the coming period.

EPA

Voters in Gujarat, the birthplace of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, head to the polls in December, a vote likely to show strong support for the leader who is seeking a third term as prime minister in national elections due in less than two years.

Yesterday, Bloomberg News Agency reported that the vote to select the 182 members of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly will take place in two stages on December 1 and December 5.

Election Commission Chairman Rajiv Kumar said during a press conference in the Indian capital New Delhi yesterday that the counting of votes will take place on the 8th of December.

The announcement of the vote comes as the western Indian state is traumatized by one of the country's deadliest accidents in a decade, after a suspension bridge collapsed this week, killing at least 135 people.

Modi visited the site of the accident earlier in the week and ordered an extensive investigation.

The commission announced last month that the northern state of Himachal Pradesh would go to polls on November 12, and votes would be counted on December 8 as well.

The state elections come at a time when the Indian economy is facing significant global headwinds, as well as rising inflation and unemployment.

An opinion poll conducted by the "Lucnity Center", which specializes in the study of developing societies in Gujarat, and published on October 31 last year, showed that half of the respondents considered the rise in prices as the most important electoral issue.

15% of the respondents referred to unemployment rates, and 6% to poverty.

Nevertheless, opinion polls show that Modi's party is poised to retain power in both states.

Over the past three months, the prime minister has made frequent visits to the two polling-related states, inaugurating infrastructure projects and addressing public gatherings.

• The state elections come at a time when the Indian economy is facing major global headwinds, in addition to high rates of inflation and unemployment.

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