Hindu party wins, threatening India's secularism

The Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party won 126 seats,gaining control of two-thirds of the 182-seat assembly in Gujarat,where 1,000 people died this year in the worst Hindu-Muslim riotingin a decade.

Gujarat's controversial Bharatiya Janata Party leader NarendraModi retained his position as the state's chief minister.

He has been criticized for saying the Hindu revenge attacksagainst Muslims were understandable.

The Bharatiya Janata Party, led by Prime Minister Atal BihariVajpayee, 77, heads India's ruling 19-party coalition. It has heldpower since 1998. AP