CHENNAI, May 10: The brother of India's president, who had urged high turnout in the election, said his name was off the rolls when he tried to vote on Monday.

Mohammad Muthu Meeran Labbai, 86, lodged a protest with polling officers saying he had proper identification and had voted in all previous elections from the same station in Rameswaram in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.

His younger brother, President Abdul Kalam, had voted with fanfare early Monday in New Delhi calling the right to choose leaders "beautiful." Kalam, in an unprecedented national address on April 19, the eve of the five-round parliamentary election, urged all Indians to make use of their "sacred right" to vote.

Tamil Nadu state leader Jayalalitha Jayaram said election authorities would investigate why the brother of the ceremonial head of state could not vote. Abdul Kalam, 72, had a humble upbringing but moved on to become one of India's top scientists and design its missile programme. -AFP