The Election Commission and the political parties represented in the dissolved parliament Wednesday held their first joint consultation Wednesday to conduct independent, free and fair elections on November 13, a Commission source said.

Six parties participated in the meeting. Minister of State for Home Debendra Raj Kandel represented the government at the meeting. Discussions centered around phase wise elections and the number

of booths required.

The Commission recommended altogether 10,858 booths in the 75 districts for a phase wise vote. Kandel recommended elections in five to seven phases for the maximum deployment of security forces for the vote, a meeting source said.

Most political parties suggested elections in two to three phases. “Is the Commission in a position to fulfill its constitutional responsibility to conduct the elections?” RPP representative at the meet, Dr. Prakash Lohini queried, conference sources said. Dr.Lohini said he supported the poll.

Party representatives recommended strict enforcement of the election code of conduct as opposition accused the government of flouting it.