Maharashtra leaders urge maximum participation by voters

Mumbai, March 10 (IANS) Maharashtra's political leaders on Sunday exhorted voters to come out in large numbers to vote in the Lok Sabha elections scheduled next month in the state.

Welcoming the election schedule announcement, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the world's biggest democracy is going to vote and the polling would be conducted by the poll panel in a free and fair manner.

"We are hopeful that the people of the state will wholeheartedly support the Bharatiya Janata Party, Shiv Sena and other allies and return us back to power with full majority," he said.

Yuva Sena President Adita Thackeray said given the work done by his Shiv Sena's MPs and the issues they have highlighted, expressed confidence that the people will again stand strongly with them.

He urged all political parties and candidates to keep the elections decent and honest, and called upon the voters "to make everyone accountable" for their promises in the past, and also guide them in the future.

State Congress President Ashok Chavan said in the past elections to the state's 48 Lok Sabha seats were smoothly completed in a couple of phases or so. "However, this time it has been stretched to four phases... the motive behind this is a mystery."

"Here is a golden opportunity for new voters to participate in the voting process and give a right direction to the nation. Entire nation is waiting for change... Its time for change," said Nationalist Congress Party state President Jayant Patil.

Polling in Maharashtra will begin from the first phase on April 11 with polling in seven seats, while 10 seats will go to polls in the second phase on April 18 and 14 in the third phase on April 23. Elections to the remaining 17 seats will be held in the fourth phase on April 29.

Counting will be held, along with the rest of the country, on May 23.