New Delhi: Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi commended the Election Commission of India for attentively addressing the concerns of the INDIA bloc, emphasizing the importance of participatory democracy in the long run. Singhvi expressed satisfaction after Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar announced that the process of counting postal ballots would precede the counting of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

Singhvi, who represented the multi-party delegation at the Election Commission, expressed gratitude for the prompt response and patient hearing given by the ECI, particularly highlighting the agreement to count postal ballots first, a significant issue for democracy. He underscored the collaborative approach adopted by the ECI, which fosters the spirit of democracy without confrontation.

CEC Rajiv Kumar confirmed that the counting of postal ballots would initiate across all centers before EVM counting, following the precedent set in previous elections. He cited instances from past elections, including the recent ones in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, where this procedure was followed.

The INDIA bloc leaders met with the Election Commission to discuss various issues related to the counting process, urging the ECI to provide clear guidelines for the counting process on June 4. Singhvi stressed the importance of adhering to the Conduct of Election Rules 1961, ensuring transparency, and strengthening faith in the electoral process.

With Lok Sabha elections conducted in seven phases under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the counting of votes is scheduled for June 4.

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