Date- 11 March, 2019: The biggest electoral battle has begun with the announcement of dates by the Election Commission of India. This time around it will be a seven phase poll spread across two months. The first phase of polling will take place on 11th April , the last and seventh phase will happen on 19th May. People's verdict will be declared on 23rd May.
While ruling BJP led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking re election for another 5 year term , the main opposition party congress is hoping to improve upon its all time low strength of 44 in 2014 elections .
But apart from these two national parties there are several other players in the field. TMC , SP , BSP , BJD , TDP, TRS , DMK , AIADMK and some more have a significant presence and political clout in their respective turfs. Infact there have been efforts in the past one year to cobble up a non BJP , non Congress alliance of regional parties .
Both BJP and Congress on their part have been busy stitching alliances with regional parties to bolster the strength of their respective coalitions - the NDA and the UPA.
Guest - Aditi Phadnis, Political Editor, Business Standard,
Shekhar Iyer, Senior Journalist,
Prof. Sunil K. Choudhary, Department of Political Science, Delhi University,
Anchor - Vishal Dahiya
