New Delhi: The Lok Sabha elections are likely to be held from mid-April and completed by the first week of May, BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) general secretary and spokesman Pramod Mahajan said today (Feb 16, 2004).

"The Lok Sabha elections are likely to begin from April 20 with the nominations beginning from third week of March," he told reporters after a two-hour meeting of the Parliamentary Board chaired by party President M Venkaiah Naidu at residence of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Meanwhile, party sources said the entire process is expected to be over by May 5 or 6 with elections likely in four phases from April 17 onwards.

The first phase is expected to take place in the southern states, the sources said.

The dates of polling are likely to be April 17, 18 and 19 and the last phase in the first week of May around 5 and 6, the sources said.