rediff.com's expert panel and its battery of reporters across the country answer readers' poll queries:

Sriram, Mumbai
I'm doing MBA here in Mumbai. I'm originally from Hyderabad. My name was registered in HYd in electoral rolls and I also got Photo-ID card. Elections there are on April 20. I am afraid I can't vote as I have exams here in Mumbai during that time. Can u give me some details about postal ballot and how it can help me?

Answer: Dear Sriram, the facility of postal ballot is provided to only to certain groups under special circumstances. For instance, jawans posted away from their constituencies or Kashmiri refugees who have been driven out of their homes by terrorists get to vote through postal ballot. The Election Commission does not provide this facility to individuals.

Prof D B Sardesai, Pune
The canditate for election declares his total estate while filing the nomination. Do they ask for a copy of IT/WT returns and PAN. Do they scrutinise about the quantum of wealth in relation to the occupation, sources of income etc?

Answer: Yes, Prof Desai, the Election Commission is free to call for IT details or any other document from any other other authority to cross check the claims of a candidate. And they do.

V Swaminathan, Mumbai
Hi, when are polls in Mumbai & Pune being held?

Answer: Both Mumbai and Pune go to the polls in the second phase on April 26.

Veera Reddy, Hyderabad
How many seats NDA will get in this election?

Answer: Various polls have given the NDA between 270 and 290 seats.

Sasidhar, Nellore
Which party is likely to form government in Andhra Pradesh?

Answer: It's dangerous to make predictions, Sasidhar. You know what happened in Rajasthan. I am sure you know what happened in Spain too.

Abhijeet Maskeri, Toronto
When do the general election start? When will the results be declared?

Answer: The polling will take place in four phases -- April 20, April 26, May 5, May 10. Counting is on May 13. For more details check our poll page -- http://in.rediff.com/election/poll04.htm

R Kannan, Hyderabad
Is K Karunanidhi contesting in DMK Party?

Answer: If you mean M Karunanidhi, he is not contesting.

R Sriram, Chennai
I wanna know the meaning of secularism. Yesterday i watched the We the People show in NDTV and the actress Jayapradha said she joined SP because of secularism. So how secular is SP, which is a party founded based on a particular caste. If i am wrong in understanding the meaning of the word secularism? Please clarify.

Answer:  No, you have understood the meaning of secularism perfectly well. Millions of Indians share and understand your frustration. It's almost become fashionable for politicians to say one thing and mean something else.

Raj, New York
I remember in previous elections, the media (incl. rediff) posted reports of several astrologers coming up with forecasts of the big politicians. This time i didn't see even one. What's up with that?

Answer: Dear Raj, this time we have added several new features to our election coverage -- Election Funda, Rumble From The Past, Body Language, Net Guide, Daily Take. Take a look at our complete coverage page. I am sure you will find a lot of stuff that will interest you. http://in.rediff.com/election/poll04.htm.

We may add the forecasts at a later a stage.

Tirumal, Hyderabad
What are the prepoll situation in Andhra Pradesh?

Answer: Very, very fluid. Though the NDA-BJP alliance will gain from their experience of having been together for some years. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu may have done a lot in the IT sector, but the question is whether the rural parts of the state have benefitted from his policies. The Telangana Rashtriya Samiti-Congress alliance is proving to be quite a handfull. But their vision for the state is still not clear and neither is how it is different from that of Naidu's. The key, of course, is Telangana. So keep checking rediff.com.

Rajshaker G, Bidar
By bringing the film stars for canvassing what exactly the politicians want to prove, weather they don't have able persons to promote there party or they want to attract people to whom they have not done justice in the past duration or anything else?

Answer: We all know what these film stars are being drafted for. Over the years people have become less and less interested in politics. They no longer connect with their leaders like they once did. The reason is clear -- today's politicians have very little credibility. So, how does one get crowds to their rallies? Carry a film star along. You must have noticed none of the senior politicians carry a film star with them. For, they still can draw crowds on their own.

Anupam, Howrah
How will TMC-BJP alliance do in the coming election in West Bengal?

Answer: The Left Front is on a strong wicket in West Bengal. The TMC-BJP alliance -- now on, now off -- does not stand much of a chance.

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