New Delhi  - The world's largest election in India is expected to provide a stimulus of sorts to the country's slowing economy as political parties splurge hundreds of millions of dollars on loud and colourful campaigns and even arrange liquor and cash to bribe people for their votes.

The spin-off effects of nationwide campaigns are already giving a boost to businesses and industry as more than 100 billion rupees (2 billion dollars) is expected to be pumped into the system in the five-stage election over the month between April 16 and May 13.

New Delhi - Grandmaster-level chess is a snap compared to the calculations and combinations involved in India's 15th general election.

Seven national parties, 47 regional parties and more than 400 smaller parties are engaged in frenetic activity, building and breaking pre-poll ties in efforts to come up with a winning combination in the mammoth electoral exercise beginning April 16.

New Delhi - In the biggest democratic exercise on the planet, India plans month-long elections beginning April 16 when almost one-sixth of humanity selects its government as the country faces its toughest economic and national security challenges in recent years.

In the complex, five-phase polls marked with a colour and fervour unmatched in the world, an electorate larger than 714 million people are to elect 543 parliamentary representatives from 35 states and union territories, six major religions and several regional languages.

New Delhi, Apr 7 : Congress may review its decision to contest Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar, who were facing charges of involvement in 1984 anti-Sikh riots case till recently.

"The Congress is a large party and it takes considered decisions at appropriate time. Let us see what solutions emerge in the future," said Ashwini Kumar, Congress Spokesman.

New Delhi, Apr. 7 : The Election Commission of India on Tuesday ordered the transfer of Uttar Pradesh Principal Secretary for Home Fateh Bahadur Singh on charges of dereliction of duty.

Deputy Election Commissioner R Balakrishnan told reporters here that the Election Commission had received several complaints on Singh from various political parties, and therefore, it was instructing the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Government in the state to send the names of three bureaucrats for his replacement.

New Delhi/Lucknow, Apr. 7 : Samajwadi Party General Secretary Amar Singh on Tuesday threatened to quit after he was insulted by party member Azam Khan.

"SP can exist without me, but not without Azam Khan, it appears," said an upset Amar Singh.

It all started when Azam Khan questioned the renomination of actress Jayaprada as the party's candidate from Rampur.

Azam Khan asked the leadership to remove Jaya from what he saw as his political turf.