New Delhi: President A P J Abdul Kalam exercised his franchise for the Lok Sabha elections at a polling station inside the Presidential estate this morning (May 10, 2004).

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The first citizen cast his vote at a polling booth at the Government Co-education Senior Secondary School minutes after the voting process began this morning at 7 hrs (IST). He was the first person to exercise franchise at this booth of the prestigious New Delhi constituency.

"I feel beautiful to exercise my right to vote," Kalam said after casting his vote.

Asked about the experience of using the Electronic Voting Machine, the techno-savvy Kalam said "fantastic."

It was Kalam's predecessor K R Narayanan who broke the tradition of Presidents not exercising their franchise.

Since Kalam was the first to arrive at the polling booth, there was no queue and he straightaway went to cast his vote.