Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday assured the people of Vidarbha of personally monitoring the developmental issues of the backward region during the next five years.

"I have decided to personally monitor the development issues of Vidarbha which have been neglected so far," he told a rally at the Radhadevi Goenka College grounds in Akola.

Reiterating the United Progressive Alliance government's promise for development of backward regions of Vidarbha and Marathwada, Singh said he would make an annual visit to Akola to review the progress.

Calling upon Congress workers to be aware of evil designs of 'communal forces' in the country, which are bent on dividing in the name of caste and religion, he sought votes for the October 13 Maharashtra assembly polls in the name of UPA chairperson and Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

The prime minister said the Congress manifesto has been drafted to ensure stability, progress and development of each section of society, including the backward class and dalits.

Referring to alleged suicides by the farmers in Vidarbha region, Singh said his government was concerned about the well being of farmers and providing them agricultural loans on minimum rate of interest.

He said the Akola-based Dr Punjabrao Deshmukh Agricultural University would be provided necessary assistance to carry out research beneficial to farmers.

Meanwhile, the prime minister's public rally at Dhule was cancelled. No reason was assigned.

He was scheduled to address three rallies in the state. But on Saturday, it was announced that the prime minister might curtail his schedule in view of an upset stomach. However, he is expected to go ahead with the rally in Nanded as scheduled.