Indications are that the General elections will start by second week of April 2014 and will be completed in 5-7 phases. Last General elections were in 5 phases.
It is expected that the election notification may be issued shortly. However, all the political parties have started their propaganda and election campaign weeks before.
Till a few weeks back, the thinking was that it will be a bi-polar election, the fight mainly between the Congress and BJP. But at present, there is a third alternative for the voters. The Left and the Regional Parties together is a third alternative. AAP also may get some seats all over India.