A flurry of Bollywood celebrities returned to their hometown of Delhi to exercise their democratic rights in the ongoing sixth phase of the Lok Sabha Election 2024. Among the stars photographed proudly displaying their inked fingers were actors Sidharth Malhotra, Esha Gupta, and Chitrangda Singh. These celebrities took time out of their demanding schedules to fulfill their responsibilities as citizens of the world’s largest democracy.
Sidharth Malhotra, a native of Delhi, ensured he did not miss this important civic duty. The actor took off from his busy working life to return to his hometown and cast his vote. He shared his experience with his fans via his Instagram handle, posting a picture of himself dressed in a crisp white shirt and sunglasses. His caption read, “Came to my hometown, Delhi, to celebrate the world’s largest democracy by voting. Delhi, go out ‘Vote’ #DelhiVoteNow #VoteForIndia.” The selfie captured not only his dedication but also his enthusiasm in participating in the democratic process.
Esha Gupta, who was in Madrid prior to the elections, similarly made her way to Delhi to cast her vote. Speaking to ETimes, she explained why she continues to vote from Delhi despite her now Mumbai-based career. “Ever since I turned 18, I have voted only from Delhi. I don’t know why I never bothered changing my address to Mumbai. Delhi is home. It is also out of habit; it is a ritual for all of us (her family) to go together to cast our vote. We come back, eat together, discuss politics.” The actress emphasized the importance of voting and remaining engaged in political discourse. “I truly feel it is really important; you can’t complain if you are not doing anything about it.
. Ever since I landed in Delhi earlier this week, politics is the only thing we have been discussing amongst friends and family,” she added.
Another notable actress, Chitrangda Singh, also took to social media to share her voting experience. On Saturday, she posted a photo on her Instagram stories showing her in a vibrant kurta, her inked finger prominently displayed as she smiled for the camera. Her caption urged her followers to vote, tagging her post with “Go exercise your most important right” and adding a “Voted” sticker.
The sixth phase of the Lok Sabha polls involves multiple key regions. It covers eight seats in Bihar, all ten seats in Haryana, one seat in Jammu and Kashmir, four in Jharkhand, all seven seats in Delhi, six in Odisha, 14 in Uttar Pradesh, and eight in West Bengal. In this stage, a total of 889 candidates are competing for the electorate’s favor.
The Lok Sabha elections, a complex and extensive exercise in democracy, will reach completion on June 1 after the seventh and final phase of the polls. This last phase will involve voters from 57 constituencies casting their ballots. The outcomes of this significant national exercise will be declared on June 4.
The involvement of prominent public figures like Sidharth Malhotra, Esha Gupta, and Chitrangda Singh in such critical civic activities is seen as a powerful message to their fans and the general public. Their active participation aims to encourage others to step up and partake in the democratic process, reinforcing the importance of each vote in shaping the future of the country.
In light of the voting process and the participation it has drawn, political analysts suggest that the presence of celebrities at polling stations can have a dual impact. While it garners greater public and media attention to the electoral process, it also underscores the concept of civic duty to a wider audience who may be influenced by these figures.
With Delhi being a significant and politically active region, the engagement by such high-profile personalities may serve to bolster voter turnout. The hope is that their influence can bring about a more politically conscious society, encouraging individuals not only to vote but to be informed and proactive about their choices.
As India continues to undertake one of the largest democratic exercises in the world, the collective effort of every voter, including celebrated personalities, plays a crucial role in determining the path of the nation’s governance and policies. The example set by these stars emphasizes that civic duty transcends profession and public stature, urging every eligible voter to participate in shaping India’s future.
