India will hold a general election in seven stages starting on April 11, the election commission said on Sunday (March 10), in what will be the world’s biggest democratic exercise.  The voting will end on May 19 and the counting begin on May 23.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was quick to urge people to vote in record numbers, calling the elections “the festival of democracy”.

The festival of democracy, Elections are here. I urge my fellow Indians to enrich the 2019 Lok Sabha elections with…

Posted by Narendra Modi on Sunday, 10 March 2019

He is likely to benefit from tension with Pakistan, says Reuters.

Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora told reporters that about 900 million people would be eligible to vote, about 15 million between the ages of 18 and 19.

Pollsters say the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has a clear advantage over opposition parties after India clashed with Pakistan last month, sparking a wave of patriotic sentiments across the country of 1.3 billion
Simultaneous assembly elections will be held in four states – Andhra, Arunachal, Odisha and Sikkim.

Elections in seven phases

The general election – to the Lok Sabha – will be held on seven days: April 11, April 18, April 23, April 29, May 6, May 12 and May 19.

Elections on all seven days in Bihar, UP and West Bengal

Elections will be held on all seven days in three states – Bihar (40 seats), Uttar Pradesh (80 seats) and West Bengal (42 seats).

Lok Sabha elections will be held in the states on the following dates:
Andhra Pradesh (25 seats) April 11
Arunachal Pradesh (2 seats) April 11
Assam (14 seats) April 11, April 18, April 23
Bihar (40 seats) April 11, April 18, April 23, April 29, May 6, May 12, May 19
Chhattisgarh (11 seats) April 11, April 18, April 23
Goa (two seats) April 23
Gujarat (26 seats) April 23
Haryana (10 seats) May 12
Himachal Pradesh (four seats) May 19
Jammu and Kashmir (six seats) April 11, April 18, April 23, April 29, May 6
Jharkhand (14 seats) April 29, May 6, May 12, May 19
Karnataka (28 seats) April 18, April 23
Kerala (20 seats) April 23
Madhya Pradesh (29 seats) April 29, May 6, May 12, May 19
Maharashtra (48 seats) April 11, April 18, April 23, April 29
Manipur (two seats) April 11, April 18
Meghalaya (two seats) April 11
Mizoram (one seat) April 11
Nagaland (one seat) April 11
Odisha (21 seats) April 11, April 18, April 23, April 29
Punjab (13 seats) May 19
Rajasthan (25 seats) April 29, May 6
Sikkim (one seat) April 11
Tamil Nadu (39 seats) April 18
Telangana (17 seats) April 11
Tripura (two seats) April 11, April 18
Uttar Pradesh (80 seats) April 11, April 18, April 23, April 29, May 6, May 12, May 19
Uttarakhand (five seats) April 11
West Bengal (40 seats) April 11, April 18, April 23, April 29, May 6, May 12, May 19

The Union Territories will go to the polls on the following dates:
Andaman and Nicobar Islands (one seat) April 11
Chandigarh (one seat) May 19
Dadra and Nagar Haveli (one seat) April 23
Daman and Diu (one seat) April 23
Lakshwadeep (one seat) April 11
National Capital Territory of Delhi (seven sets) May 12
Puducherry (one seat) April 18

Day of counting: May 23.

BJP leaders like Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh were quick to tweet, welcoming the poll announcement,

We welcome the declaration of elections for the 17th Lok Sabha.

I call upon the people of India to turnout in record numbers and enhance the vibrancy of India's electoral process.

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) March 10, 2019

The poll bugle has been sounded for the 17th General Elections. The nation is ready to celebrate the festival of democracy. I urge the people of India to participate in this festival by electing a government which will transform India into a ‘New India’. #PhirEkBaarModiSarkar

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) March 10, 2019

The opposition also responded.

With announcement of General Elections, the Model code of conduct comes into force. It will end the unfair use of govt resources by Modi govt. Secular, democratic India is confident that EC will conduct free, fair & safe elections to ensure a smooth transition to the next govt.

— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) March 10, 2019