Gujarat in western India will hold elections in December, posing a challenge for the ruling Congress party amidst their current crisis. Additionally, Himachal Pradesh in northern India will have elections on Nov. 14 and Dec. 19. Political analyst Mahesh Rangarajan noted that this will be the first direct contest between the Congress and the opposition BJP since the political climate changed due to the nuclear deal. The Congress, leading India's ruling coalition, is facing resistance from leftist allies over the deal with the US, with threats of withdrawing support if the deal proceeds. If this scenario occurs, the government would be in the minority and it is possible that national elections could take place before the scheduled date in 2009. Over 30 million individuals will participate in voting for 182 seats in Gujarat in two phases on December 11 and 16. The Chief Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist BJP party has been victorious in the last three elections. Five years ago, Modi faced allegations of neglect during Hindu-Muslim riots in Gujarat in which around 2,500 individuals, mostly Muslims, were killed according to human rights organizations. The official death toll is around 1,000. The riots began in 2002 following a fire on a train carrying Hindu pilgrims that resulted in the deaths of 59 people. The fire was believed to have been initiated by a group of Muslim individuals.