Prominent politicians and film stars came in full attendance to get themselves inked sending a message to their followers and fans that vote was not just a right, but also a weapon to get the government they deserve.
One of the first voters in the city was Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan, who along with his wife Vimala Narasimhan, cast his vote just after 7 a.m. at a booth opposite the Raj Bhavan. “Vote is an important right and every citizen must exercise this right,” Mr. Narasimhan said after casting his vote.
The Chief Electoral Officer, Bhanwarlal, cast his vote at a polling booth in IAS Officers Colony while the Director General of Police B. Prasada Rao exercised his franchise at the Police Officers’ Mess at Masab Tank. Mr. Rao, who came along with his wife, said that vote was the only way to choose good leaders to govern the country.
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Most of the top film stars voted at various polling stations in Jubilee Hills. Pawan Kalyan, who founded the Jana Sena Party and extended his support to BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi at the Centre and the BJP-TDP alliance, was one of the first film stars to vote.
Popular film actor junior NTR, who was conspicuously absent from the TDP campaign, voted along with his wife and mother at Jubilee Hills. Balakrishna, who is also a contestant from Hindupur in Anantapur district, was accompanied by his wife and daughter. Actor-couple Rajasekhar and Jeevita, Srikanth-Ooha, Nitin, Keeravani, Kota Srinivasa Rao, Satyanarayana, Rama Naidu, Nagababu were other prominent film personalities.
Comedian Brahmanandam could not find his name in the voters’ list and had to return disappointed. Interestingly, he was featured in the Election Commission campaign urging people to exercise their vote.
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