 "Brisk polling in Maha; Rekha, Vidya Balan among early voters")
Bollywood celebrities Rekha, Vidya Balan, Sunny Deol and Sonam Kapoor were among the early-morning voters who gave a head start to voting in Mumbai today.
In Mumbai and also across the state, voting began on a brisk note with most of the voters seemed keen to avoid sweltering heat as mercury has risen to 39 degree Celsius in the last two days.
Actress Vidya Balan was among the first Bollywood celebrity to cast her vote.
When asked about her voting in Chembur, she said laughing, "Why not.. This gives me a chance to come to Chembur..I do come often".
"Its my responsibility to vote...To point fingers at others and (if) I face a problem, I need to have this on my finger," she said displaying her inked finger.
Yesteryear actress and Rajya Sabha member (nominated) Rekha came in a track suit to exercise her right to franchise. Actors Sunny Deol and Sonam Kapoor also cast their votes.
In suburban Dadar, morning walkers armed with their photo voter slips arrived at polling stations and were seen searching for their names in the voter rolls before entering booths.
In neighbouring Dombivali, which falls in the Kalyan Lok Sabha constituency, voters thronged polling booths even before they were opened.
"I wanted to avoid to heat in the afternoon and I was eagerly awaiting for the polling to open so that I am the first to cast my vote. It feels good," said a middle-aged voter.
In Nashik in north Maharashtra, an ex-serviceman said he was voting for the first time in his life.
"While in service, we were posted all over the country and could not exercise our franchise. Now after retirement, I decided that I will be the first to cast my vote," he said.
Another early voter said she felt proud after exercising her right to franchise.
In Mumbai and also across the state, voting began on a brisk note with most of the voters seemed keen to avoid sweltering heat as mercury has risen to 39 degree Celsius in the last two days.
Actress Vidya Balan was among the first Bollywood celebrity to cast her vote.
Also Read
Vidya, who lives in suburban Juhu after her marriage with UTV head Siddharth Roy Kapur, cast her vote at a Chembur booth.
When asked about her voting in Chembur, she said laughing, "Why not.. This gives me a chance to come to Chembur..I do come often".
"Its my responsibility to vote...To point fingers at others and (if) I face a problem, I need to have this on my finger," she said displaying her inked finger.
Yesteryear actress and Rajya Sabha member (nominated) Rekha came in a track suit to exercise her right to franchise. Actors Sunny Deol and Sonam Kapoor also cast their votes.
In suburban Dadar, morning walkers armed with their photo voter slips arrived at polling stations and were seen searching for their names in the voter rolls before entering booths.
In neighbouring Dombivali, which falls in the Kalyan Lok Sabha constituency, voters thronged polling booths even before they were opened.
"I wanted to avoid to heat in the afternoon and I was eagerly awaiting for the polling to open so that I am the first to cast my vote. It feels good," said a middle-aged voter.
In Nashik in north Maharashtra, an ex-serviceman said he was voting for the first time in his life.
"While in service, we were posted all over the country and could not exercise our franchise. Now after retirement, I decided that I will be the first to cast my vote," he said.
Another early voter said she felt proud after exercising her right to franchise.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
SAVE 25%
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Subscribe
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
SAVE 25%