KALPETTA: Voter turnout has crossed 60 per cent in both Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency and Chelakkara assembly constituency where by-elections are being held today. Long queues were seen in front of various polling booths in both constituencies right from the morning. With just a few minutes left for voting to end, 63 per cent of voting has been reported in Wayanad. Meanwhile, a 69 per cent voter turnout was reported in Chelakkara. Booths in rural areas of Wayanad witnessed a rush in the morning, while those in urban areas witnessed less crowd.

AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi is the UDF candidate in Wayanad. She was fielded here after her brother Rahul Gandhi, opposition leader in Lok Sabha, resigned from the constituency. CPI’s senior leader Sathyan Mokeri and BJP’s Navya Haridas are the LDF and NDA candidates respectively.

Priyanka Gandhi visited various polling booths in Wayanad. A large number of Chooralmala landslide victims came to polling booths. Two booths were arranged for them. This is the first election since the disaster. Free vehicles have also been arranged for the disaster victims to reach the polling booths from the relief camps.

LDF candidate U R Pradeep is facing Ramya Haridas of the UDF in Chelakkara. K Balakrishnan is the BJP candidate here.