New Delhi: The 2014 general election will in all probability begin in the second week of April and could be spread over seven phases. The 2009 polls were held in five phases from April 16 to May 13.
Highly placed sources said the schedule is now in the process of being finalised, and efforts are on to cut it to six phases. If a six or seven phase schedule is finalised, it will be the first time the nation has elections spread over such a long period.
The announcement is expected in the middle of this week after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s two day visit to Burma beginning Monday. The model code of conduct comes into force the moment the schedule is announced, and will apply to all political parties and governments, both the Centre and all states.
