New Delhi: Amidst a strong demand by political parties to ban opinion and exit polls, the Election Commission (EC) today (April 6, 2004) held a crucial all-party meeting to elicit views of leaders of recognised parties for evolving a consensus.

The exercise undertaken by the Commission comes ahead of Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in some States and assumes significance in the light of EC favouring such a ban.

EC sources said the spate of personal attacks in course of campaigning and advertisements by political parties and candidates was also on the agenda.

The meeting took place in the light of the Supreme Court banning all offensive poll advertisements and warning that it would consider making slanderous advertisements an electoral offence.

Six national political parties and 45 State parties were invited to the meeting to discuss a gamut of poll-related issues.