Actor and BJP MP Hema Malini faced criticism from fellow voters on Thursday after casting her vote in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, when some citizens alleged she was given preferential treatment at the polling centre.
Hema Malini, who showed her inked finger and spoke to reporters after voting, was confronted by bystanders who claimed they had been standing in long queues for hours. A video of the incident, which has since gone viral on social media, shows an angry voter questioning the apparent special access given to the actor-politician.
“We have been here for the last 60 years, and this kind of chaos has never happened. I have been standing here since 7.45 am and could vote only at 9.30 am. Nobody is answerable, nobody is accountable,” the man was heard saying in the video.
As the situation escalated, Hema Malini called in a member of her team to address the grievance. She then continued speaking to the media, urging citizens to participate in the democratic process.
“Everyone should come out to vote. I have come early in the morning to cast my vote. I have a lot of work lined up, but voting is very important for every citizen of Mumbai,” she said.
Several Bollywood celebrities, including Akshay Kumar, Twinkle Khanna, John Abraham, Tamannaah Bhatia, Nana Patekar, Sanya Malhotra and Vishal Dadlani, were also seen at polling stations across Mumbai on Thursday.
Polling for the BMC elections began at 7.30 am and will continue till 5.30 pm, with counting scheduled for Friday, January 16. The State Election Commission said adequate Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) have been deployed across the city to ensure smooth voting.