BMC polls: Hema Malini, Salim Khan vote, Varun Dhawan’s name missing from voters list | Bollywood - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

BMC polls: Hema Malini, Salim Khan vote, Varun Dhawan’s name missing from voters list

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | By
Feb 21, 2017 03:04 PM IST

Rekha, Ranveer Singh, Varun Dhawan, Anushka Sharma, Shraddha Kapoor, Hema Malini, Neena Gupta, John Abraham, Zoya Akhtar and Sachin Tendulkar were among the many celebrities on Tuesday to cast their vote in Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections.

Many Bollywood celebrities came out on Tuesday to cast their vote in elections to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the civic body responsible for the upkeep for Mumbai. Actor Rekha and filmmaker Zoya Akhtar were among the first Mumbai residents to do so.

Varun Dhawan arrives to vote at St Joseph’s High School, Juhu but his name was not in the list.(Prodip Guha/HT Photo)
Varun Dhawan arrives to vote at St Joseph’s High School, Juhu but his name was not in the list.(Prodip Guha/HT Photo)

Varun Dhawan, Ranveer Singh, Anushka Sharma, John Abraham, Shraddha Kapoor and Bhagyashree visited polling stations in their area and voted. Among the older generation, Hema Malini, Neena Gupta and Salim Khan went to cast their vote. Among the non Bollywood celebs was cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and his wife Anjali.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Hema Malini arrives to cast her vote at St Joseph’s High School, Juhu in Mumbai on Tuesday. (Prodip Guha/HT Photo)
Hema Malini arrives to cast her vote at St Joseph’s High School, Juhu in Mumbai on Tuesday. (Prodip Guha/HT Photo)
Scriptwriter Salim Khan with son Arbaaz Khan were seen at Mount Mary Convent High School, Bandra on February 21, 2017. (Pratik Chorge/HT Photo)
Scriptwriter Salim Khan with son Arbaaz Khan were seen at Mount Mary Convent High School, Bandra on February 21, 2017. (Pratik Chorge/HT Photo)
Actor Neena Gupta poses for the camera after casting her vote at St Joseph’s High School, Juhu in Mumbai on February 21, 2017. (Prodip Guha/HT Photo)
Actor Neena Gupta poses for the camera after casting her vote at St Joseph’s High School, Juhu in Mumbai on February 21, 2017. (Prodip Guha/HT Photo)
Sachin Tendulkar and his wife Anjali cast their vote at Mount Mary Convent High School, Bandra on Tuesday. (Pramod Thakur/HT Photo)
Sachin Tendulkar and his wife Anjali cast their vote at Mount Mary Convent High School, Bandra on Tuesday. (Pramod Thakur/HT Photo)
Shraddha Kapoor is seen leaving after she cast her vote at ISKCON Temple, Juhu, Mumbai on Tuesday. (Prodip Guha/HT Photo)
Shraddha Kapoor is seen leaving after she cast her vote at ISKCON Temple, Juhu, Mumbai on Tuesday. (Prodip Guha/HT Photo)
Bhagyashree and her husband after they cast their vote at Jamnabai Narsee School in Mumbai. (Prodip Guha/HT Photo)
Bhagyashree and her husband after they cast their vote at Jamnabai Narsee School in Mumbai. (Prodip Guha/HT Photo)
Actor Paresh Rawal and his wife, former model and actor Swaroop Sampat, returning from the polling booth. Paresh’s name was not in the list at Jamnabai Narsee School centre in Mumbai. (Prodip Guha/HT Photo)
Actor Paresh Rawal and his wife, former model and actor Swaroop Sampat, returning from the polling booth. Paresh’s name was not in the list at Jamnabai Narsee School centre in Mumbai. (Prodip Guha/HT Photo)
Actor Milind Gunaji with wife Rani Gunaji arrive to cast their vote at Bandra on Tuesday. (Kunal Patil/HT Photo)
Actor Milind Gunaji with wife Rani Gunaji arrive to cast their vote at Bandra on Tuesday. (Kunal Patil/HT Photo)

Many stars tweeted and encouraged others to go and vote.

Authorities have been struggling to convince people to participate in the election for Asia’s biggest civic body. Over the years, the voter turnout has been declining steadily.

The presence of movie stars – Mumbai is the heart of Hindi and to a large extent Indian film industry – encourages people to vote. Hashtag #VoteKarMaharashtra was trending in the morning.

In the run-up to the polls, NGOs, the civic body and the state election commission urged people to come out and vote for the 227-ward BMC, the richest civic body in country.

Actor Rekha and filmmaker Zoya Akhtar show their inked finger outside a polling booth in Mumbai on Tuesday. (Pramod Thakur/HT Photo)
Actor Rekha and filmmaker Zoya Akhtar show their inked finger outside a polling booth in Mumbai on Tuesday. (Pramod Thakur/HT Photo)

Candidates, too, requested people to shun their indifference. Shiv Sena candidate Durga Shinde from Walkeshwar kicked off #WhatNowVoteNow campaign. “Vote for the candidate of your choice, but do vote,” is her pitch.

BJP candidate Jitendra Ghadigaonkar from ward 115 (Bhandup) also undertook a similar campaign.

While more than 60% of Mumbai’s population is registered as voters, the turnout in BMC elections is dismal. In the 2012, the turnout was only 44%.

With the BJP and the Shiv Sena locked in a furious contest, every vote will count. Unlike the past, all four major parties have chosen to go solo this time.

Follow @htshowbiz for more

Oscars 2024: From Nominees to Red Carpet Glam! Get Exclusive Coverage on HT. Click Here

Get more updates from Bollywood, Hollywood, Music and Web Series along with Latest Entertainment News at Hindustan Times.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On