Speaking at a CII session on election here on Wednesday, chief election commissioner MS Gill said that all the possibilities suggested by the political parties have their plus and minus and deciding on any particular choice was not easy. "Various political parties have given different views in their individual meetings with election commission and it is necessary to listen to them when they sit together for finalising the date," he added.

The six recognised parties and 48 regional parties are being invited to the meeting. Such meeting was held before conduct of all general elections, an official release said here today. Congress party spokesman Arjun Singh has said that the party would abide by the decision of the election commission on the dates for the mid-term poll. The party would not put any pressure on the commission in this regard, he said.

The BJP, too, has indicatedthat the party will not press for election in June. Information and broadcasting minister Pramod Mahajan said it was the prerogative of the election commission to decide on the dates for the coming Lok sabha elections. "Our only anxiety is that government should have legitimacy," Mahajan told reporters and added it did not matter whether elections were held in June or september.

Addressing the CII members, Gill described the dissolution of 12th Lok sabha as unfortunate. He said some mechanism should be evolved to ensure that the Lok sabha could complete its full term once it was constituted.

This could be done by a simple amendment to the constitution. The major parties could take the lead in this direction. The German constitution could be studied for this purpose, he added.

Gill also stressed on the neutral selection of all high functional post for smooth completion of the electoral procedure. He favoured a run-off election and system of composite vote for selection of candidates. Gill asked for theconstitution of a trust by the industry to help political parties. He said "I had welcomed when the tatas announced setting up of a trust to help political parties during the last Lok Sabha election." The trade and industry should constitute such a trust. But the election Commission would not be involved, he pointed out. The chief election commissioner said that the election commission has asked the political parties to formulate common programmes that they intend to implement if elected to power, before the elections. The people should be familiarised with such programmes, he added.

Gill said that the country appears to be heading towards a two-coalition politics. "The coalition politics is emerging in the country for last three years and the political parties must learn to run it efficiently," he added. Assuring the electorate of free, fair and transparent elections, Gill said the electronic voting machines (evms) would be used on a much larger scale than in the past. These were successfully utlilised inthe recent Assembly elections in Delhi and some other states, he said. Meanwhile, the election commission has continued its meeting with political leaders and officials assoiciated with the election.

Home secretary BP Singh met the chief election commissioner at nirvachan sadan to discuss security plans and related matters for the coming general elections.

According to sources, during their first meeting after the dissolution of the Lok sabha, the internal security situation and pre-poll preprations in vulnerable areas came up for discussions.