SRK, Salman Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, Saif-Kareena lead Bollywood celebs in casting votes amid Mumbai's perpetual stunted voter turnout
Mumbai/IBNS: Bollywood A-listers Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Ranbir Kapoor to new age heartthrobs like Kartik Aaryan, Ananya Panday were the tinseltown celebrities to cast their votes in Mumbai for the Maharashtra assembly elections amid the perpetual low voter turnout in the city on Wednesday.
Dressed in a pair of cargo jeans and white shirt, Shah Rukh arrived at the polling station along with his family- wife Gauri Khan, elder son Aryan Khan and daughter Suhana Khan.
KHANdaan arrives in style to cast their votes! @iamsrk @gaurikhan #SuhanaKhan #AryanKhan #ShahRukhKhan #Election2024 #ElectionDay #Elections #SRK #GauriKhan pic.twitter.com/kTkhQreNqt
— Shah Rukh Khan Universe Fan Club (@SRKUniverse) November 20, 2024
Bollywood superstar Salman Khan arrived at the polling station with heavy security in the backdrop of threats from gangster Lawrence Bishnoi group, which killed Maharashtra politician Baba Siddique last month.
VIDEO | Maharashtra Assembly elections 2024: Actor Salman Khan (@BeingSalmanKhan) casts his vote at a polling booth in Mumbai.#MaharashtraElections2024 #MaharashtraAssemblyElections2024
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 20, 2024
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/lUNTNBZHTM
Dressed in a pair of trousers and a white t-shirt, Ranbir Kapoor went to the polling booth to cast his vote.
Flashing his inked finger, the actor said, "It's our birth right. It's our responsibility to come and vote."
#WATCH | Mumbai: Actor Ranbir Kapoor says, "It is your responsibility to vote. Please come and vote..." https://t.co/P7JmVgZI8m pic.twitter.com/4dPXqqqUCt
— ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2024
Senior actress Madhuri Dixit, who was last seen in massively hit Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, also reached the polling booth to cast her vote.
#WATCH | Actor Madhuri Dixit cast her vote for #MaharashtraElections2024, at a polling booth in Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/IW3LnBKAkj
— ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2024
Suniel Shetty, Akshay Kumar were among the early voters on this day.
Flashing his inked finger, Akshay said, "The arrangements have been good, especially for seniors. Cleanliness has been maintained. I want everyone to cast their votes."
#WATCH | Mumbai: Actor Akshay Kumar shows his inked finger after casting his vote for #MaharashtraAssemblyElections2024
— ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2024
He says "The arrangements here are very good as I can see that arrangements for senior citizens are very good and cleanliness has been maintained. I want… pic.twitter.com/QXpmDuBKJ7
Bollywood power couple Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor were among the celebrities who went to vote post noon.
Among the new-age heartthrobs who were spotted at the polling station were Kartik Aaryan, Anaya Panday.
"Voting is very important," said Kartik, who has just delivered a massive hit with Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, in his brief remark.
#WATCH | Mumbai: After casting his vote, Kartik Aaryan says, "Please cast your vote, this is very important." https://t.co/o4OU16YWO3 pic.twitter.com/QzTZa5eE1H
— ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2024
Maharashtra, which is one of the largest Indian states, has recorded 58.22% till 5 pm.
Mumbai, the financial capital of the country, continued with its trend of low voter turnout as only 49% voted despite relentless encouragement from the authorities and influential people to cast their mandates.
Among the celebrities who didn't turn up for voting was acting legend Amitabh Bachchan, who usually never misses the voting day with his family.
#WATCH | Actor Ananya Panday, her mother Bhavna Panday and father, actor Chunky Panday cast their vote for #MaharashtraElections2024, at a polling booth in Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/yq2jqrWksK
— ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2024
More than 9.7 crore voters were expected to exercise their franchise to elect 288 members of the highly contested Maharashtra Assembly on Wednesday.
The incumbent Mahayuti comprising BJP, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) and NCP (Ajit Pawar) are facing a tough challenge from the opposition camp formed by the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray), NCP (Sharad Pawar) and Congress.