The world's largest democracy will vote in four phases from April 20 to May 10 and spindoctors and managers of the principal political parties are bracing for a long and arduous campaign into the scorching Indian summer.

The ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (Indian People's Party -- BJP) has made plans for an estimated 3,000 rallies for its national leaders, including putting the face of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, 79, on every street corner.

"Our campaign will be positive, offensive and combative," said Amitabh Sinha, BJP's national convenor and media manager.

"We will pace the campaign as and when required. We will take the pitch high and then low and then high depending on the situation. Our campaign team is very experienced in managing elections in the most scientific manner."

Apart from traditional roadshows and rallies, the BJP has also chalked out an "e-campaign" to reach its target audience through mobile and fixed phones, SMS, e-mails, and television and FM radio spots.

The party is setting up a 24-hour call centre to run this electronic blitzkrieg. Details have been collected of a majority of the 72 million phone connections in the country -- 46 million fixed and 26 million mobile phones.