New Delhi  - India will hold assembly elections in five states in November and December, the country's Election Commission announced on Tuesday, in what could prove to be a test for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's coalition.

The voting will be held in the national capital New Delhi as well as central states Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, northern Rajasthan and north-eastern Mizoram from November 14 to December 4, Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami told reporters in New Delhi.

Counting with electronic machines will take place for all the states on December 8, he added.

However, dates for elections in the India-administered state of Kashmir, which has seen violent separatist protests since August this year, were not announced.

"No decision has been taken with regard to elections in Jammu and Kashmir. We are still assessing the situation," Gopalaswami said.

"Positioning security forces is part of the problem but there are other factors and we will get back as soon as we decide," he added.

India's general elections are likely to be held by May and political analysts said the state polls would indicate how the masses could vote.

The state polls are taking place against the backdrop of slowing economic growth, high inflation as well as terrorist bombings and religious violence in several parts of the country.

The Indian National Congress, which heads the ruling United Progressive Alliance that came to power more than four years ago, has suffered reverses in nine of 11 state elections since last year.

The main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, which rules Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Rajasthan has gained ground over the past months and is aiming to retain power in the three states and wrest Delhi from the Congress party. (dpa)