Union HRD minister and senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi on Wednesday exercised his franchise at a polling booth in Allahabad.
Accompanied by his wife Tarla and daughter Priyambad, he arrived at the polling booth at 8.20 am and exercised his franchise.
Joshi, contesting from Allahabad Lok Sabha constituency for a record fourth consecutive term, alleged that Mulayam Singh Government in UP was 'misusing official machinery'.
He urged the Election Commission to stop alleged misuse of the state apparatus by Samajwadi Party, besides intimidation of voters by the party workers.
Joshi expressed hope that the BJP-led NDA would return to power under leadership of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
The alliance of the opposition parties has already developed cracks even before the elections were over whereas NDA is a "strong and united coalition capable of leading the country for another term".
He alleged the opposition was treating Muslims as a mere vote bank and claimed these elections would witness a positive shift in the thinking of the minority community members.