Telugu filmstars make a beeline to polling booths

Hyderabad, April 16 (IANS) Popular actors and other Telugu film personalities, politically active or otherwise, turned out in force here Thursday to cast their votes for the first phase of parliamentary and assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh.

Leading the list was superstar Chiranjeevi, who is making his debut in state politics. Accompanied by wife Surekha, son and actor Ram Charan Teja and daughter Sushmita, the founder and president of the Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) cast his vote.

'People want a change and I am sure they will support Praja Rajyam,' Chiranjeevi told reporters outside the polling station in the state capital.

His children were excited at participating in the poll process.

'This is a special feeling as we are casting our votes for a party founded by our father,' said Teja.

Chiranjeevi's brothers and popular actors Pavan Kalyan and Naga Babu, who campaigned for the party across the state, also cast their votes.

Sporting a T-shirt inscribed 'Vote, vote, vote', young actor Allu Arjun, the son of PRP general secretary and Chiranjeevi's brother-in-law Allu Aravind, stood in a queue along with other voters waiting for his chance to vote.

N. Balakrishna, a popular actor and leading campaigner for the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), also exercised his franchise in a polling booth in upmarket Jubilee Hills area here.

Balakrishna, son of TDP founder N.T. Rama Rao, campaigned for the party across the state.

NTR's grandson and TDP's star campaigner Junior NTR came to the polling centre on a stretcher as he is yet to recover from the injuries he sustained in a road accident during campaigning last month.

Actress and Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) candidate from Medak Lok Sabha constituency Vijayshanti also cast her vote.

Actor couple Rajasekhar and Jeevitha were also among those who voted. Another popular actor Nagarjuna, who praised the Congress government recently, and his wife Amla stood in queue at a polling booth in Jubilee Hills to cast their votes. Well-known producer, actor, and Congress leader Dasari Narayan Rao also cast his vote.

Many other stars who do not have any political affiliation came out to cast their votes to convey a message to the citizens. Actors like Venkatesh, Srikanth, Jagapathi Babu, Raja and several others also voted, some of them taking time out from their busy shooting schedules for the purpose.

'The polling day is not a holiday. It is the responsibility of every citizen to come out and cast his vote to elect a better representative and a better government,' said Jagapathi Babu.

Famous filmmaker D. Rama Naidu, young producer Teja, comedian Brahmanandam and character actor Kota Srinivas Rao were among other prominent film personalities who cast their vote.