India will hold general elections to the 15th Lok Sabha by May 2009.

Elections in India for the Lok Sabha (the national parliament) must be held at least every five years under normal circumstances; with the last elections held in 2004 elections will take place by May 2009. India's Chief Election Commissioner, N. Gopalaswami, stated on December 28th, 2008, that he expects elections to be held between April and May of 2009. He attributed this schedule to the examination period from February to March, making polling places unavailable. On January 28th, 2009, Election Commissioner Dr. S.Y. Quraishi announced that the elections would be held between April 8th, 2009 and May 15th, 2009, though the exact polling dates would only be announced in due course.

United Progressive Alliance - Formed in 2004, has headed India's government under the current term.

* Indian National Congress

* Rashtriya Janata Dal

* Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam

* Nationalist Congress Party

* Jharkhand Mukti Morcha

* Jammu and Kashmir National Conference

* Samajwadi Party

* Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK)

National Democratic Alliance - Formed in 1998, headed India's last two governments and is the main opposition.

* Bharatiya Janata Party

* Shiv Sena

* Biju Janata Dal

* Shiromani Akali Dal

* Janata Dal (United)

* Asom Gana Parishad

* Rashtriya Lok Dal

* Indian National Lok Dal

* Nagaland Peoples Front

* Manipur People's Party

* United Democratic Party

Third Front - General seat-sharing agreement between Leftist and other regional parties.

* Communist Party of India (Marxist)

* Communist Party of India

* Telugu Desam Party

* Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam

* All India Forward Bloc

* Janata Dal (Secular)

* Revolutionary Socialist Party

* Telangana Rashtra Samithi

* Kerala Congress (Joseph)