Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged voters to participate actively in the Lok Sabha elections shortly after the voting dates were announced on Sunday evening. “The festival of democracy, elections, are here,” he tweeted.

Voting to elect the 17th Lok Sabha will take place in seven phases between April 11 and May 19, the Election Commission announced on Sunday. The votes will be counted on May 23. The Model Code of Conduct came into effect immediately after the announcement.

Assembly elections for Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim will be held along with the General Elections. The poll panel did not announce the dates for Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

Modi said India is “very proud” of the Election Commission for “assiduously organising elections” for several years. He expressed hope that the elections see a “historic turnout”.

Modi also wished all political parties and candidates the best, and said: “We may belong to different parties but our aim must be the same: the development of India and empowerment of every Indian.”

He also claimed that his government had spent five years “fulfilling basic necessities that were left unfulfilled for 70 long years”, and signed off with the hashtag #PhirEkBaarModiSarkar [Once again, Modi government].

Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah called on voters to participate in the polling exercise to reelect the Modi government. “The Modi government will ensure India’s giant leap, where everyone will be happy and prosperous,” Shah tweeted.

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s Karnataka unit took on the Congress while reacting to the announcement. “The dates to make India Congress-free is announced [sic],” the state unit tweeted. “Hope the Opposition is ready with fake narratives. Bring it on, we will expose them all. Let’s ensure election results are celebrated on Indian soil and not in Pakistan.”

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath also tweeted exuding confidence that Modi will be re-elected. “The ‘Mahakumbh’ of democracy starts with announcement of poll dates by Election Commission,” Adityanath tweeted. “Uttar Pradesh and India will vote for a stable and strong government by actively participating in the greatest festival of democracy to further accelerate the development journey that began under the visionary leadership.”

Meanwhile, the Congress also expressed confidence about winning the elections. “The bugle has been sounded,” the Congress tweeted. “It is the turn of the public to fight lies. We are prepared to fight and win.”

Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal asked voters to throw out the Modi-led administration and called it the “most dictatorial and anti-federal” government in the history of India. “Time to seek answers on demonetisation, jobs, destruction of traders and destroying brotherhood amongst different communities,” Kejriwal tweeted.

Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav urged voters to vote for unity and hope. “The first law of democracy: What goes up, must come down,” Yadav tweeted. “Those who forget this do so at their peril. As we celebrate our democracy let us vote for hope and unity. We promise to work for the poor and our farmers and empower our youth and women.”

Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati said Indians deserve a government better than the “anti-poor and pro-capitalist Modi government”. “Crores of poor, labourers, farmers, women, youth, etc will participate in great strength,” she said while stressing on the need for free and fair polls.

Political parties in Jammu and Kashmir expressed their displeasure about the poll panel’s decision to announce only Parliamentary poll dates in the state. The Election Commission said it had not announced the dates for the Assembly elections because of security concerns.

Karnataka Chief Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy expressed hope that the polling is conducted fairly. “All parties and candidates must follow the guidelines issued by the ECI and uphold the values of democracy, and respect the decision of the voters,” Kumaraswamy said.