AKIPRESS.COM - India's parliamentary elections will start on April 7, the country's authorities announced on Wednesday, kicking off a race that will pit Hindu nationalist leader Narendra Modi against the Nehru-Gandhi family's ruling Congress party.

814 million people will be eligible to vote, making this the biggest election the world has ever seen. Results are due to be announced on May 16, eKantipur news resource reported.

Voting will be held in nine stages.

A multi-headed group of regional parties is also seeks power. A 'third front' government made up of regional groups with diverse agendas could prove unwieldy, a potential problem for Asia's third-largest economy, whose growth has skidded due to the slow pace of reform on the Congress party's watch.

Leading the campaign for the Congress party is Rahul Gandhi, the latest in line in the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty that has given India three prime ministers and its most powerful contemporary politician, his mother, Sonia Gandhi.

The election comes as the economy is on course to grow at below 5% for the second year running, which would be the worst performance since the 1980s for a country that a few years ago was confident of matching China's run of double-digit expansion.

In addition, overseas investors have extended a buying streak of Indian shares, totaling $800 million in a run of 13 sessions until Tuesday. Businesses have put investment plans on hold ahead of the elections, leading to a contraction in capital formation and worsening a slowdown that could be reversed after results are declared in May.