NEW DELHI, 1 March 2004 — Indian voters will go to the polls in national elections for the Lok Sabha (lower house of Parliament) to be held in four stages in April and May that are seen as likely to return the ruling Hindu fundamentalist-led alliance to power.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led coalition government sought early elections to capitalize on a booming economy and peace moves with Pakistan.

The elctions in which 675 million people can vote will be held in four stages on April 20, April 26, May 5 and May 10, Chief Election Commissioner T.S. Krishnamurthy told reporters in the capital yesterday.

Results of the elections that opinion polls suggest will result in a landslide win for the BJP-led alliance will be known on May 13.

“Let India shine” in the conduct of these elections, he said, borrowing from a BJP slogan as he urged parties to comport themselves with dignity, refrain from violence and choose candidates with good records.

“We do not want elections to be conducted on the basis of violence or personal attacks,” Krishnamurthy said.

Parliament was dissolved Feb. 6, paving the way for the elections to be held ahead of the expiry of the government’s five-year term Sept. 30. The elctions pit the BJP’s Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, 79, against the opposition Congress party, led by Italian-born Sonia Gandhi, 57.

The 119-year-old Congress party which led India to independence from Britain in 1947 and has ruled the country for most of its independent history is facing a crisis following its longest stint out of power.

Gandhi’s foreign birth is a key issue in many voters’ minds, polls suggest.

In a bid to appeal to the mainstream, the BJP has downplayed its Hindu revivalist roots and is hoping India’s strong economic resurgence and bumper crops after a bountiful monsoon will lead to its re-election.

Since sweeping three state polls in December, the government has announced a slew of vote-grabbing economic steps and a big media campaign, titled “India Shining,” highlighting what it says is a “feel-good” sentiment in the country.

Congress, last in power in 1996, has pledged good governance and to preserve India’s secular identity which it says the BJP has jeopardized.

It has just 109 members in the 545-seat Parliament compared with the BJP’s 180. Although it administers 11 of India’s 28 states, it is finding it tough to prevent its support base from shrinking.

Both parties have been engaged in frantic deal-making to form broad-based alliances. Vajpayee has also been trying to woo minorities, especially around 144 million Muslims who have shied away from the BJP due to its hard-line Hindu image.

Voting in the country of more than one billion people is a massive and cumbersome exercise. The election will be the first nationwide relying completely on electronic voting machines that will “ensure complete secrecy, total accuracy and neutrality,” Krishnamurthy said.

Some 141 constituencies will vote on the first polling day, 137 on the second, 83 on the third and 182 on May 10.

Due to security problems in revolt-racked Kashmir, elections there will be staggered over the four voting days.

Simultaneous state elections will be held in four states — Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka in the south, Orissa in the east and Sikkim in the northeast.

To ensure clean elections after previous ones that were often contested by people with criminal records, all candidates must present affidavits disclosing assets and any convictions. The general elections for the first time ban candidates with criminal records.

“Violations will not be glossed over,” Krishnamurthy said.

After counting of votes takes place on May 13, within a couple of days, the new government is expected to be sworn in. Counting in Andhra Pradesh will be advanced by a day or two.

Describing India as “flawless democracy,” Krishnamurthy specified: “The model code of conduct will be enforced strictly.” Krishnamurthy’s note on “flawless democracy” was apparently a dig at the US State Department report describing Indian democracy as “flawed.”

On the number of observers, Krishnamurthy said: “We will be having around 2,000 observers.”

Krishnamurthy refused to divulge details on the number of security and paramilitary officers to be engaged to ensure peaceful conduct of elections. “We do not share such information. We are satisfied with the adequacy of paramilitary forces,” he said.

Krishnamurthy also shared information about the government having rejected a proposal of the commission, according to which the list of candidates on the ballot paper should include “none of the above,” giving the voters a right to show that they weren’t satisfied with any contestant.

In addition, under provisions of model code of conduct, the political leaders cannot inaugurate any public project or make announcements considered as sops for voters. As, except for the prime minister, all other ministers including the deputy prime minister cannot use Indian Air Force aircraft or any other government plane, Advani had to relinquish the IAF services from yesterday.

Krishnamurthy appealed to the political parties and government to follow the model code of conduct in earnest. Asserting that it would be implemented strictly, he said the commission would not hesitate to order repoll in constituencies where violation takes place. Welcoming the poll schedule, BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar said: “We are confident that the BJP-led NDA would get a renewed mandate from the people and enable us to carry forward our programs with emphasis on development and capability of our leadership.”

Hailing the decision, Congress spokesman Kapil Sibal said: “We welcome the decision of the Election Commission in holding poll in four phases.”

— Additional input from agencies