Indian tribeswomen queue up to cast their votes at a polling station in the village of Kokila , some 45km from Itanagar yesterday, for state assembly election in the north-eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh. Three Indian states went to the polls in the first test for the ruling Congress party alliance since it won a thumping general election victory in May on promises of economic reform. Photo: AFP

Film star John Abraham, lyricist Javed Akhtar and his actress wife Shabana Azmi were among the early voters from the Bollywood fraternity who exercised their right to franchise for the Assembly elections in Maharashtra.
John voted in Bandra, while Akhtar and Shabana cast their votes in Juhu in suburban Mumbai yesterday.
Stressing the importance of vote as an instrument of change, John said infrastructure in Mumbai needed an overhaul. Akhtar said each and every citizen should be thankful to the constitution of India for providing them the important fundamental right of choosing one's government.
"Not many countries give this right to its citizens. We have it and must make full use of it," the lyricist said.
Shabana, also a social activist, said, "It is very important to vote in an assembly election because we can bring about the change in our own area." Villain of yesteryear Prem Chopra, actors Rahul Bose and Nagma also cast their votes.
Nagma was a hopeful for Congress ticket from Malad, which did not materialise.