India to kick off world's biggest election on April 7

NEW DELHI: India's mammoth parliamentary  election will start on April 7, authorities announced on Tuesday, kicking off a race that will pit charismatic Hindu nationalist leader Narendra Modi against the unpopular Nehru-Gandhi family's ruling Congress party.

Voting will be held in nine phases, staggered until May 12 to allow security forces to focus their strength during an exercise that, for decades after independence from Britain in 1947, has often been marred by violence and ballot-rigging. Counting of votes will begin on May 16, Chief Election Commissioner V.S. Sampath told a news conference.