By Sanjay Dasgupta South Asia analyst

Mr Vajpayee wants to cash in on the "feel good" factor

The exact timing of India's next general election and its schedule depends largely on the country's autonomous Election Commission.

The process will kick off formally when the Indian prime minister, with cabinet approval, advises the president to dissolve the lower house of parliament.

By law a new lower house will have to be constituted within six months of the present one being dissolved.

Conducting the polls is the responsibility of India's autonomous Election Commission.

This comprises a three-man panel that is currently headed by the Chief Election Commissioner, James Michael Lyngdoh.

Independent

Fiercely independent, he retires in February to be replaced by TS Krishnamurthy.

BJP election flags during December's successful elections

That's something observers say was not lost on the ruling party when it decided to push for elections to be held in March or April.

Forty-five days are constitutionally required between the election commission formally announcing polls and the first day of voting.

The election commission sets the polling dates which are usually staggered from state to state to allow election officials and security workers to move to each area as it votes.

But before that it must publish updated electoral rolls.

Mr Lyngdoh say they will be ready by the first week of March.