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.

Singh said that because of a massive growth of in population, Mumbai's transport, communication and social services have come under tremendous strain. "When we talk of a resurgent Asia, people think of the great changes that have come about in Shanghai. I share this aspiration with the chief minister [Sushilkumar Shinde] and senior Congress leaders to transform Mumbai in the next five years in such a manner that people would forget about Shanghai and Mumbai will become a talking point," the prime minister said.

Asserting that his government will restore the lost status of Maharashtra as 'number one' state by revitalising all processes, he said: "I have a dream that we can do it. I believe we can become number one through modernisation, expansion and development and make Mumbai the number one city in our country."

Singh said his government will strive to create an environment in which all sections of people, belonging to all castes and religions, will work together and earn India a rightful place in the comity of nations.