Voters wait in a queue to cast their vote for the Karnataka state election outside a polling booth in Bangalore yesterday. The southern Indian state of Karnataka voted in a crucial election Sonia Gandhi's ruling Congress party is battling to win as it faces a potential backlash over surging prices. Photo: AFP

The southern Indian state of Karnataka voted yesterday in a crucial election Sonia Gandhi's ruling Congress party is battling to win as it faces a potential backlash over surging prices.
Ten hours of peaceful polling under heavy security ended at 5:00 pm local time (1130 GMT).
About 45 percent of the electorate -- or more than 7.7 million voters -- voted in the first eight hours to choose 89 lawmakers for the 224-member Karnataka assembly, the Press Trust of India news agency reported.
The remaining seats will be filled May 16 and 22 in a three-phase election the Congress is fighting on a promise to rein in prices, provide a stable government and refurbish the state's shabby infrastructure.