Modi's last pitch to voters: India & democracy should win, vote for the future

NEW DELHI: Making a final pitch to voters on the last day of elections 2014, BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Monday said, "In this election, India & democracy should win, let us vote for our future."

In a video released by his office, Modi said, "I hope that forces will be deployed for free, fair & peaceful elections." "Even after scorching heat people have come out & voted to give strength to the new government," he added.

Meanwhile, tight security arrangements have been made for the last phase of polling as more than 7,000 polling stations in the 18 seats, including Varanasi and Azamgarh from where Narendra Modi and Mulayam Singh Yadav are contesting respectively, have been identified as critical by the Election Commission.

The last phase of Lok Sabha polls will also cover three naxal-affected districts of Mirzapur, Sonbhadra and Chandauli, for which state police have made special arrangements.

A total of 42 seats, including some high-profile constituencies vote today. Prominent among them is Varanasi from where Narendra Modi is contesting. After raid on its party office in Varanasi, BJP on Sunday appealed to Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath to "exercise his authority" to ensure that no rigging takes place during last leg of polling tomorrow.

BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi appealed to CEC to act and "establish the authority" of a constitutional body by putting in place adequate machinery and central forces to see no "wrong-doing" takes place.

(With inputs from PTI)