Mr Vajpayee's term of office was scheduled to end in October

During the week-long session it will pass interim rail and financial budgets before being dissolved.

India's governing coalition has called early polls to capitalise on what it perceives are key political and economic gains.

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's term of office was scheduled to end in October.

Earlier this week, the cabinet announced that it was dissolving parliament on 6 February to pave the way for elections.

India's independent Election Commission is responsible for setting the date of the polls and is expected to announce them shortly.

Under the Indian constitution, the newly elected house has to meet within six months of the dissolution of the old house.

After the schedule is finalised, the election process has to be completed within 45 days.

Re-election bid

India's lower house has 545 members elected to serve for five years.

The BJP, the main party in the ruling coalition, believes it has a number of elements in its favour for an early election.

These include a buoyant economy as well as a string of recent election successes in three politically influential states.

A recent visit to Pakistan and an agreement for talks on the disputed region of Kashmir have also boosted Mr Vajpayee.