The Commission, headed by Justice B P Jeevan Reddy, in its 170th report ``has stressed the necessity of having elections once in five years for Lok Sabha as well as State Assemblies and made suggestions on that behalf'', an official release said here.

It suggested inclusion of a chapter in the Representation of People Act regulating the formation and functioning of political parties, especially to avoid their splintering and to ensure internal democracy and maintenance of funds.

``The Commission has also opined that time is now ripe for barring independent candidates from contesting elections for Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies and made recommendations accordingly,'' the release said.

It recommended the desirability of adopting a rulerequiring only a candidate obtaining 50 per cent and above votes be declared elected and holding of ``run off'' election wherever necessary.