Govt prefers April-May window for polls

Although the political circles are abuzz with reports of the General Election taking place in February-March next year, sources say the government is considering "" to the extent it can "" revising the calendar to April-May. Reason: The Election Commission is unlikely to agree to the February-March schedule on the grounds that the cold in many parts of India will affect the voter turnout.

However, things may spin out of the government's control if the Left parties, as it is widely believed, pull the plug on the government in November, after which the government will have to inform the President it is in a minority and go by her advice to dissolve the Lok Sabha.

The Commission, according to official sources, needs four months to make preparation for the election "" for updating and publishing the electoral rolls to charting out the schedule.

Further, the Commission is likely to remain busy with the crucial state Assembly elections in Gujarat till December 26.

A February-March or March-April schedule is not feasible for another reason: This is the time annual examinations are held in schools all over the country. The school premises play a key role in the conduct of Indian elections where about 668 million voters cast their votes in some 800,000 polling booths, which are often set up in school premises. Besides, the Commission also uses school buildings for lodging security forces.

Going by the past experience, in all likelihood, elections would be a four-phase exercise along the lines of the last General Election. The last election were held from April 20 to May 10, over a three-week period.