LS polls from April 16
* To be conducted in 5 phases
* Counting on May 16
* Code of conduct in force
New Delhi, March 2
The Election Commission of India today announced the much-awaited dates for holding elections to the 15th Lok Sabha. The general elections would be conducted in five phases — between April 16 and May 13 — while the counting would be done on May 16.

 On May 7, 13 in region
AP Assembly elections on April 16, 22

Chief Election Commissioner N. Gopalaswami with election commissioners Naveen Chawla (R) and S.Y. Qureshi (L) at a press conference to announce the Lok Sabha poll schedule in New Delhi on Monday. Tribune photo: Mukesh Aggarwal

Editorial Beware! There is political instability lurking ahead by H.K. Dua JAGO RE re is one of the more impressive public interest campaigns that have been running on TV channels during the last few weeks. The message is direct, simple and tends to reach out to over a billion people who are being called upon to elect their new rulers.

BJP hails schedule, Cong unhappy
New Delhi, March 2
Rival political parties have reacted on expected lines to the Election Commission’s (EC) decision to hold elections in five phases.

Nation page: Cong-NCP talks hit roadblock

Exit of ‘Dons’ worries political parties
Patna, March 2
The coming Lok Sabha elections in Bihar would relatively be peaceful and free as most of the ‘Dons-turned-politicians’ will remain out of the fray.

Mutineers wanted to destabilise govt: Pranab
New Delhi, March 2
Amid reports suggesting the involvement of external forces in the mutiny by BDR personnel, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee today expressed shock over the killings of nearly 100 people in the revolt and condemned the "barbaric acts" aimed at destabilising a democratically elected government.

World page: BDR revolt: Ringleader held

14 lakh take exams New Delhi, March 2 Over 14.5 lakh students across the country appeared in the class 10th and 12th examinations that board authorities said were conducted "smoothly" and "without any complaint". Students in a jubilant mood after taking the CBSE exams in a school in Chandigarh on Monday. Tribune photo: Vinay Malik