India to kick off polls Apr 7

Supporters of Gujarat's chief minister and Hindu nationalist Narendra Modi, the prime ministerial candidate for India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), hold BJP symbols during a rally being addressed by Modi ahead of the 2014 general elections, in the southern Indian city of Chennai February 8. Photo: Reuters

India’s parliamentary elections will begin from April 7, making it the longest-running democratic exercise in the country's history.

Election Commission announced the mammoth polls schedule that will be held in nine phases till May 12 to elect 543 members of Lok Sabha and elect a new government.

The polls will be held on April 7, 9, 10, 12, 14, 25, 30, May 7 and 12 in which 810 million voters are expected to exercise their franchise.

Counting of the votes is scheduled for May 16, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

The poll schedule was announced by Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath flanked by Election Commissioners H S Brahma and Nasim Zaidi at a news conference New Delhi this morning.

The world's biggest voting exercise pits main opposition BJP's Narendra Modi, who is the party’s prime ministerial candidate,  against Rahul Gandhi, star campaigner of ruling Congress party, asking voters for a third consecutive term in power.

Opinion polls have forecast that the BJP under Modi will emerge with the biggest majority.

Indian elections have not thrown up a clear majority for any party since 1989 and the country has been ruled by coalitions since then.

With the announcement of the election dates, the model code of conduct has gone into force preventing the government from making any policy decision which can be seen as influencing voters.

It also prohibits political parties from making any unsubstantiated allegations against rivals.

Sampath said the Election Commission will deploy flying teams to keep a check on use of money power and has taken measures to monitor expenditure by parties and their candidates.