<p>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.<br /><br /></p>.<p>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. <br /><br />“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.<br /><br />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.”<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.”<br /><br />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.</p>
<p>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.<br /><br /></p>.<p>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. <br /><br />“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.<br /><br />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.”<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.”<br /><br />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.</p>