NEW DELHI, Feb 20: India's parliamentary elections are likely to be held in four phases from mid-April to early May, political sources and an electoral official said on Friday.

"Broadly it will be a four-phase election," A.N. Jha, spokesman for India's Election Commission told reporters after a meeting here between the commission's top officials and leaders of political parties.

A prominent leader of the ruling BJP party, Pramod Mahajan, who also attended the meeting, told reporters that polls were likely to be held on April 17, 18 and May 8 and 9. Other political sources echoed Mahajan, telling newsmen the elections were most likely to be held between mid-April and early May. -AFP