Sai Baba, YSR cast vote

Hyderabad, April 23 (IANS) Godman Sri Sathya Sai Baba Thursday cast his vote in Puttaparthi in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh.

He went to a polling booth near his abode to exercise his franchise. This is the first time that Sai Baba cast his vote. He later left for Kodaikanal in his special aircraft.

Saibaba, 84, has his followers across the world and they include several heads of states and governments, ambassadors, sportspersons and film stars.

Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy also cast his vote in Pulivendula assembly constituency in his native Kadapa district. YSR, as he is popularly known, left for Pulivendula from here and exercised his franchise in Bakarapuram area.

The chief minister, who is seeking a third consecutive term from Pulivendula, told reporters that he was confident that the Congress would retain power.

YSR's son Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, who is making his debut in electoral politics from Kadapa Lok Sabha constituency, also cast his vote.

Jaganmohan, an industrialist, told reporters that he had come into politics to serve the people. Earlier, YSR's wife Vijaylakshmi, daughter Sharmila and daughter-in-law Bharati stood in a queue to cast their votes.