The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Bangalore

India's ruling Congress party and Hindu nationalists face off Friday in the second phase of a crucial state election that analysts say could influence the timing of a national vote.

More than 10 million people are eligible to cast their ballots in districts spread across the central and coastal regions of southern Karnataka. They will choose 66 lawmakers from among 590 candidates.

Karnataka, home to 60 million people and centred on India's software city of Bangalore, will be followed by a clutch of state elections that precede parliamentary polls due by May next year. Analysts predict the national vote may be brought forward if Congress were to win Karnataka, where the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is fighting to win power on its own for the first time in the south.