Dates announced for India polls

General elections in India will take place in five phases over April and May, the Election Commission has said. Polling to elect a new Lok Sabha (lower house) will run from 16 April to 13 May. Counting is due on 16 May.Nearly four million officials will conduct the elections and 714 million voters are eligible to cast ballots. The incumbent Congress party-led coalition and parties led by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party will be battling a host of smaller parties. If no group wins a clear majority, the smaller regional parties could play a crucial role. Some states will hold votes in several phases. The new parliament has to be constituted by 2 June.