New Delhi: Former Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, actor Akshay Kumar and Rajkummar Rao are among the early voters in the Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024. The Bollywood celebrities stepped out of their homes early in the day to exercise their fundamental right to vote.
Sachin Tendulkar along with his wife Anjali and daughter Sara cast their vote at a polling booth in Mumbai. The trio showed their inked fingers to the media.
“I have been an icon of the ECI (Election Commission of India) for quite some time now. The message I am giving is to turn up and vote. It is our responsibility. I hope people will take that effort and come and vote. I urge everyone to come and vote.”
Actor Akshay Kumar showed his inked finger after casting his vote for Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024.
While speaking to the media, Akshay Kumar made a clarion call to vote. Lauding the arrangements made at the polling booth, Mr Kumar said, “The arrangements for senior citizens are great. Cleanliness has been maintained. I want everyone to come out and cast their votes.”
Tina Dutta also cast vote. Sharing a bunch of selfies on social media, Ms Dutta gave a message of vote. She wrote, “Drop the ‘I’m too busy’ excuse and make a quick visit to the polling booth and cast your vote! Because every vote counts (sic).”
Actor and politician Urmila Matomndkar has also cast her vote. She shared a photo on X, flaunting her inked finger and urged citizens to vote for “yourself, your children, your society and your Maharashtra.”
Rajkummar Rao cast his vote at a polling booth in Gyan Kendra Secondary School, Mumbai. He urged citizens to do the “important” task – vote.
“It is our right in a democracy, so it’s important that we step outside and vote. I have performed my duty. It is your turn now. Please vote,” actor Rajkummar Rao said, while speaking to news agency Press Trust of India.
“It is the responsibility of every citizen to go out and vote. It’s very important for the country. Don’t celebrate it as a holiday. Go and vote,” said actor Sonu Sood after he cast his vote.
Actor couple Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia D’Souza cast their votes at a polling station in Latur. While speaking to the media, actor Deshmukh showed confidence in Maha Vikas Aghadi’s victory in the Maharashtra assembly elections.
Musician Vishal Dadlani also appealed to people to come out of their homes and vote. “This is your state, your country. If there is love for the state and country, please come and cast your votes.”
Mr Dadlani believes rural Maharashtra is charged up to vote.
Actor and filmmaker Pooja Bhatt appealed to her fans to make their votes count. She wrote, “Go vote Mumbai. Go vote Bandra. Your vote matters.”
Film directors Kabir Khan and Zoya Akhtar, actors Ali Fazal and John Abraham, and filmmaker and actor Farhan Akhtar too came out early to cast votes and fulfill their duty.
Voting for the single-phase Maharashtra assembly elections began at 7 am and will conclude at 6 pm. Polling is taking place across 288 assembly constituencies.
A total of 4,136 candidates are contesting the elections, including 2,086 independents.
