Jamshedpur : Dipping mercury in city failed to deter the who�s who of the city to exercise their franchise. Taking a lead, T V Narendran, managing director, Tata Steel along with his wife Ruchi Narendran went to vote.
Clad in stripes shirt and a blue blazer, Narendran flashed a smile as shutterbugs went to capture the best pose. Mrs Narendran, clad in salwar suit, also passed a smile. Voters standing in queue were a bit surprised to see the managing director of steel major along with his wife standing amidst them.
The famous couple of the city practiced their franchise and went away on their Mercedes Benz. Though the media was keen to interact with them but they thought it better to just give a smile to the eager photographers.
Since early morning the security at the Loyola School booth was tight. But despite its VIP status, the polling booth did see a fair number of people cast their votes. While many voters were either unaware about the VIPs on the list others felt it didn�t make a difference.
�It is really good to see managing director of a steel company leaving his comfort and coming out to vote on a hot and sultry day. I have seen him practicing his franchise earlier also. Narendran never misses the chance to vote and that�s no doubt an inspiration for many who avoid leaving their drawing rooms to come out and vote,� said Harvinder Singh, a petrol pump owner and resident of Circuit House area.
Senior officials of various other companies along with their spouses also turned up to vote this time. Though they refused to comment on the elections however they gave poses for the photojournalists.
�Though a number of VIPs are on the list at Loyola School booth however I had little problem in casting my vote, all were treated like a common citizen,� said a voter while coming out of the booth.
Apart from corporate honchos, senior political leaders also practiced their franchise. BJP vice president, Raghuwar Das, also cast his vote in the morning.
Das along with some party workers went to vote at Bhalubhasa polling booth. He expressed his confidence over party�s victory across the State.
The Jamshedpur MP and BJP leader Bidyut Baran Mahto cast his vote at the Krishanpur government school polling booth in Adityapur.
Mahto, resides at Bistupur had been to his village Krishnapur along with his wife Usha for casting their votes this morning.