Political bigwigs, celebrities get 'marked', do their bit

Top party leaders refuse to comment on results

A host of prominent political personalities and celebrities exercised their franchise, with the hope of ushering in progress, when the state went to polls on Thursday, as part of the nine-phased general elections.

While AIADMK supremo and Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, on emerging out of a polling booth, preferred to reserve her comments till the results are declared, the opposition’s DMK chief M Karunanidhi exuded confidence that his party would win more seats this time.

“I request all political parties and the general public to cooperate with the Election Commission to ensure a peaceful, free and fair elections. I do not wish to make any other remarks now. I reserve all my comments till the results are declared,” Jayalalithaa said.

Karunanidhi, on the other hand, said, “Certainly, the DMK will win more seats this time. Despite the ‘money power’ of the ruling AIADMK, the DMK-led front will win more seats this time than the last elections.”

Other prominent leaders, including DMK treasurer and Karunanidhi’s son M K Stalin, DMDK chief and actor Vijayakanth, MDMK chief Vaiko, former Union health minister Anbumani Ramadoss of PMK and Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram also exercised their franchise in their respective constituencies.

Leading Tamil filmstars too voted enthusiastically, with actor Rajnikanth making his way to a polling booth near his residence at Poes Garden quite early in the day.  The superstar, who is keeping away from politics, said, “Everyone should vote. Exercising one’s franchise is a democratic duty.”

Among others who had turned up to cast their vote were DMK Central Chennai candidate and 2G-tainted former Union minister Dayanidhi Maran, BJP South Chennai candidate and Party National Council Member L Ganesan, actors Kamal Haasan, Gowthami, Ajith and Shalini, Kushboo and her husband Sundar C, Vijay, Sivakumar, his actor sons Surya and Karthi,  besides Jeeva and Prasanna.