New Delhi, Mar 18: The Government on Wednesday gave a formal nod for issuing notifications for the commencement of the general election process.

Talking to reporters here, Home Minister P Chidambaram said the notifications will be issued on March 23, 28 and April 2, 11 and 17 by the President for the five-phase polls beginning April 16.

"The Representation of the People Act requires that the President shall issue notifications for the general elections," he added

As per clause (2) of article 83 of the Constitution, the House of the people, unless sooner dissolves, shall continue for five years from the date appointed for its first meeting and no longer and the expiration of the said period of five years shall operate as a dissolution of the House. The term of the fourteenth Lok Sabha is due to expire on the June 1, 2009 as its first sitting was held on the June 2, 2004.

Section 14 of the representation of the People Act, 1951 requires that for the purpose of constituting a new House of the people on the expiration of the existing House or on its dissolution, the President shall, by one or more notifications published in the Gazette of India, on such date or dates, as may be recommended by the Election Commission, call upon all Parliamentary constituencies to elect members.

The Election Commission had announced the schedule for general elections to the 15th Lok Sabha ands to Legislative Assemblies of the States, namely, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Sikkim to be held simultaneously and has recommended that the polls to be held in five phases on different dates. (ANI)