Indian elections expected in April
From CNN Correspondent Ram Ramgopal
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Vajpayee and Musharraf met in Pakistan last month.
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NEW DELHI (CNN) -- India's President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam has dissolved the lower house of parliament, paving the way for early elections, possibly in April.
The dissolution was carried in a presidential statement Friday reported by the Press Trust of India.
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee met Kalam Thursday to request the dissolution. According to the Press Trust of India
Last month, India's governing party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), recommended early elections to capitalize on a healthy economy, better ties with Pakistan and recent victories in regional elections.
The BJP heads India's 17-party coalition government.
Within the next six weeks, the Indian Election Commission will set the dates for elections. Vajpayee will stay on as caretaker prime minister until a new government is formed.
Vajpayee has enjoyed a surge of popularity since resuming talks with Pakistan on ending decades-old hostilities. A robust economy also has increased goodwill toward his party.
"We hope that the efforts with Pakistan will be the beginning of a new chapter," Vajpayee said. "I had extended a hand of friendship to Pakistan, and I am happy it has been accepted."
India's economy is projected to grow more than 7 percent this year after a bumper harvest by farmers, who make up nearly two-thirds of the country's population of more than 1 billion.
Vajpayee will attempt to become the first Indian prime minister to serve four terms. India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, and his daughter, Indira Gandhi, each were elected three times, although those tenures were longer than Vajpayee's.
Elections to the 543 seats of the Indian parliament's Lower House are a mammoth task. During the last elections held in October 1999, thousands of contestants from hundreds political parties were on the ballot.
Elections must be held at least every five years, and the estimated cost of organizing them is $200 million.
