United Nations: Terming India as a "very important partner" of the United Nations, a spokesperson for UN chief Ban Ki-moon has said that the Secretary General and the world body will closely follow the country's crucial general elections scheduled to begin on April 7. "We obviously follow all national elections closely and India is a very important partner of the UN," and the UN and the Secretary General would "closely" follow the general elections as well, Ban's spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told PTI when asked about the upcoming elections in the world's largest democracy. India will go to polls beginning on April 7 in phases that will conclude on May 12. The results of the elections are expected on May 16.