NEW DELHI: India, the world's biggest democracy, on Wednesday set April 7 as the start of parliamentary elections expected to see the opposition Hindu nationalists led by hardliner Narendra Modi come to power.

The Election Commission announced at a press conference that the polls would be held in nine phases until May 12, with 814 million people set to cast their votes -- 100 million more than in the last elections in 2009 -- and a result due on May 16.