Apparently worried over low voter turnout due to large number of marriages on December 12, the polling day in Gujarat, Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Monday night appealed to people to exercise their franchise first and then attend the wedding ceremonies.
"Pehle Matdaan, phir Kanyadaan" (first voting and then the marriage ceremony) he appealed to people while addressing a public meeting in his Maninagar assembly constituency where Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the star speaker.
Modi also made a fervent appeal to the women folk to wind up their morning chores as early as possible, so that they can go to polling booths and exercise their franchise.
He also had a separate slogan "Pehle Matdaan, phir Jalpaan" (first voting and then (preparing) of snacks) for women to the utter enthralment of his supporters at the Kankariya football ground.
"Women must put a sign board of this slogan in the kitchens so that they remember to go and vote," he remarked.