Ahmedabad: Apparently worried over low voter turn out due to large number of marriages on December 12, the polling day in Gujarat, caretaker Chief Minister Narendra Modi appealed to the 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 Assembly constituency where Prime Minister Atal Behari 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" (vote first and then cook) ready for women, to the utter enthrallment of his supporters.

"Women must put a signboard of this slogan in the kitchens so that they remember to go and vote," he remarked, inviting thundering applause from the audience.

PTI