Maharashtra: Moderate turnout, Bollywood, India Inc take lead

MUMBAI: Nearly 15 per cent turnout was recorded in the first few hours in 19 seats across Maharashtra in the third and final phase of elections in the state today with the tribal-dominated Nandurbar recording the highest 20.60 per cent polling.

Mumbai recorded an average of 15.18 per cent polling across all six parliamentary constituencies in first four hours.

In Mumbai, known for subdued turnout in polls, Bollywood celebrities and India Inc honchos gave a head start to voting in the morning hours.

Celebrities like Rekha, Vidya Balan, Sunny Deol, Sonam Kapoor, Dharmendra, Aamir Khan and Prasoon Joshi cast their votes in the morning hours, so did Adi Godrej, Anil Ambani, SBI chairperson Arundhati Bhattacharya among others.

"It's my responsibility to vote. To point fingers at others and (if) I face a problem, I need to have this on my finger," Balan said displaying her inked finger outside a booth in suburban Chembur.

Actor Aamir Khan, who cast his vote in suburban Bandra, said, "Voting is an important process in democracy. It is my duty as an Indian to vote".

Actress Sonam Kapoor, who was among early-morning voters, said, "It is good to vote for those who make legitimate promises".

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar cast his vote along with wife Anjali around noon at a polling booth near their residence in suburban Bandra.

The sports legend posted a selfie showing his inked finger on Twitter and said, "I have voted..Have U ? A wonderful start to my birthday as a responsible citizen of our great nation."

Among corporates, Anil Ambani walked into a polling booth in the tony Cuffe Parade locality, not far from his residence at the 'Sea Wind' tower at 0715 hours.

Godrej chairman Adi Godrej too exercised his right to franchise in the morning hours.