Election Commission of India has announced election dates for 2009 Loksabha Polls. 2009 Loksabha polls will be held in 5 phases from April 16 onwards. 71.4 crore people will cast votes in these polls in 8 lakh polling booths across the country. Elections for Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Sikkhim assemblies will also be held simultaneously along with Loksabha Polls. Counting of votes will be held on May 16.     UP and Jammu-Kashmir: 5 phases   Bihar: 4 phases   Maharashtra and West Bengal: 3 phases.   Andhra Pradesh, MP and Punjab: 2 phases     2009 Loksabha Election dates:     1st phase: on April 16.   2nd phase: on April 23.   3rd Phase: on April 30.   4th Phase: on May 7.   5th Phase: on May 13.     Date of counting: May 16, 2009.     Andhra Assembly Elections will be held on April 16 and 23.     Latest Political alliances:     1. West Bengal: Congress and TMC formed an alliance and is expected to give stiff competition to CPM.   2. Uttar Pradesh: BJP formed an alliance with Ajit Singh led RLD.   3. Uttar Pradesh: Congress and SP will surely announce seat sharing agreement but only after hard bargaining.   4. Maharashtra: NCP-Congress alliance unexpectedly went into rough weather. But they too soon form an alliance out of necessity.     According to current situation, UPA marched ahead of BJP by forming a string of crucial alliances in various seats. But UPA will lose significant number of seats in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh while it may gain some seats in Kerala and West Bengal. Left Front may be a big loser after elections. BSP, AIADMK and TDP are big beneficiaries.     Note: Poll code … [Read more...]