Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday appealed to the Maharashtra electorate to vote "secular parties" back to power to ensure rapid socio-economic development in the country.

"The country had been saved in the last Lok Sabha elections after the communal forces faced a crushing defeat, failing which it would have been difficult to free the country from the grasp of such forces," Singh said addressing a gathering of party workers on his maiden visit to the city after taking over as prime minister.