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Published 18:52 IST, April 23rd 2019

Tamil film actor Sivakarthikeyan voted despite his name missing from voters’ list, EC orders action against polling booth officials

News had spread like wildfire that Sivakarthikeyan’s name was not on the voters’ list in Chennai during the second phase of the Lok Sabha polls on April 18. Tamil film actor Sivakarthikeyan voted despite his name missing from voters’ list, EC orders action against booth officials.

Reported by: Joel Kurian
null | Image: self

News had spread like wildfire that Sivakarthikeyan’s name was not on the voters’ list in Chennai during the second phase of the Lok Sabha polls on April 18. However, the actor’s picture moments later made everyone believe that the problem got resolved. Now, it has emerged that the actor voted despite his name missing from the electoral rolls. The Election Commission has accepted there was a ‘mistake’ on the part of the officials at the booth and action has been ordered over it. 

READ: Lok Sabha Polls Phase 2: Trisha, Vijay Sethupathi, Sivakathikeyan, Siddharth, Other Stars Cast Their Votes, Selfies Flood Social Media

"Sivakarthikeyan's name was not on the voter's list. He has voted despite that. This is a mistake on the part of the polling booth officials present there. I have ordered for action against them," Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Sathyabrata Sahoo was quoted as saying to reporters at the Secretariat. 

Sivakarthikeyan and wife Aarthi had gone to the Good Shepherd School polling booth in Valasaravakkam to cast their votes. The actor’s name was missing while the latter’s name was present on the list. He is reported to have come back after some time and was allowed to cast his vote. As per reports, he said that he acquired ‘special permission’ to vote. He had then tweeted the picture of his inked finger and written, “Voting is your right and fight for your right.” 

As per reports, another actor Srikanth too faced the same situation as his wife’s Vandana’s name was in the list, but his name was missing when they went to vote at the Saligramam Kavery School. The ‘Nanban’ actor reportedly said he was issued an election ID and he was allowed to vote. He added that his polling booth was different as his address on his Aadhaar card was different. 

Actors like Ramesh Kanna and Robo Shankar too faced the same situation but unlike Sivakarthikeyan, Srikanth, they were not allowed to vote. 

READ: 'World Class', Exclaim Netizens As Sivakarthikeyan's 'Kanaa' Trailer With An Uplifting Message For Women's Cricket Hits Home

Previously, Ram Charan’s mother-in-law Shobana Kamineni had lashed out after her name was not in the voters’ list. Rahul Dravid was among the others who couldn’t vote after failing to get his name included in the list after a change of address. 

Updated 19:10 IST, April 23rd 2019

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