lok-sabha-elections

Updated: Mar 14, 2019 00:04 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday tagged top politicians including Congress president Rahul Gandhi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, celebrities including Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh, and other prominent personalities on Twitter urging them to “encourage” people to vote in record numbers in the upcoming Lok Sabha election.

“I appeal to @RahulGandhi, @MamataOfficial, @PawarSpeaks, @Mayawati, @yadavakhilesh, @yadavtejashwi and @mkstalin to encourage increased voter participation in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. A high turnout augurs well for our democratic fabric,” reads one of the tweets posted by PM Modi.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav responded to PM Modi’s tweet with a dig urging people to elect a new prime minister in the Lok Sabha election. “I felt happy that the prime minister appealed to mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) for mahaparivartan (grand change). I will also appeal to all Indian citizens to vote in large numbers and elect a new prime minister,” Yadav said in his post.

The prime minister also tagged actors Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt, Anushka Sharma, Ranveer Singh and Varun Dhawan among others saying, “I am sure their message will have a positive impact on our citizens.” He also urged actors Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan, and filmmaker Karan Johar to “creatively ensure high voter awareness and participation in the coming elections.”

He also named industry leaders Ratan Tata and Anand Mahindra in his posts on the micro-blogging site for “ensuring maximum participation in voting.”

PM Modi reached out prominent personalities from a wide spectrum of society soon after posting a blog in which he made “four requests for democracy”. This comes barely four weeks ahead of the first phase of the Lok Sabha election.

Dear @msdhoni, @imVkohli and @ImRo45,

You are always setting outstanding records on the cricketing field but this time, do inspire the 130 crore people of India to set a new record of high voter turnout in the upcoming elections.

When this happens, democracy will be the winner! — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 13, 2019

You are always setting outstanding records on the cricketing field but this time, do inspire the 130 crore people of India to set a new record of high voter turnout in the upcoming elections. When this happens, democracy will be the winner!

Actor Akshay Kumar, Karan Johar and others responded to PM Modi’s appeal seeking greater voter’s participation in the upcoming parliamentary polls.

Well said @narendramodi ji. The true hallmark of a democracy lies in people’s participation in the electoral process. Voting has to be a superhit prem katha between our nation and its voters :) 🙏🏻 https://t.co/rwhwdhXj1S — Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) March 13, 2019

Honourable Prime Minister @narendramodi we as a fraternity are dedicated to the cause of creating high voter awareness and will make sure every endeavour is made to communicate the power of voting for a solid and Democratic INDIA! Jai Hind! https://t.co/aoMnfwvIjA — Karan Johar (@karanjohar) March 13, 2019

Absolutely right sir, Hon PM. Let us all engage as citizens of the biggest democracy in the world. Let us fulfill our responsibility, and avail of our right to get our voice heard.

Vote! https://t.co/24vWPQHXQy — Aamir Khan (@aamir_khan) March 13, 2019

In his blog, PM Modi said election is an “occasion for celebration” while asserting that “not voting causes great anguish”.

“Would you want a situation where something happens in the country that you disapprove of and you are forced to think - because I did not go vote that day, this unfortunate situation has arisen and the nation is suffering,” reads PM Modi’s latest blog.

“Spare yourself from that regret and go vote,” advises the prime minister, who also said that by voting, people connect themselves with the country’s dreams and aspirations.

The “four requests”, as put out by PM Modi, are for the eligible voters to get themselves registered, make sure their names figure in the list of electoral rolls, plan their voting schedule to make sure they use franchise and to mobilise friends and families to vote in large numbers.

“Dear @srikidambi, @Pvsindhu1 & @NSaina, The core of badminton is the court and the core of democracy is the vote. Just like you smash records, do also inspire a record-breaking voter turnout. I request you to increase voter awareness & motivate youth to vote in large numbers,” reads another tweet of PM Modi

He also sought participation of spiritual gurus Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Sadhguru for “greater voter awareness.” The prime minister also tagged chief ministers of several states in his series of tweets seeking support for “improving voting across the country”.

Nitish Kumar of Bihar, Naveen Patnaik of Odisha, HD Kumaraswamy of Karnataka, N Chandrababu Naidu of Andhra Pradesh and Pawan Chamling of Sikkim are among the chief ministers PM Modi tagged in his posts on Twitter.

“Higher voting means a stronger democracy and a stronger democracy means a developed India,” writes he prime minister. The Lok Sabha election will be held for 543 seats between April 11 and May 19. The counting of votes would take place on May 23.