PALAKKAD: After a high-octane campaigns and controversies, polling started in the Palakkad constituency. Polling which started at 7 am will be till 6 pm. Long queues are witnessed in almost all the polling booths.

1,94,706 voters are casting their votes today in 184 booths in the assembly constituency comprising Palakkad Municipality, Pirayiri, Kannadi and Mathur panchayats. Out of these, 1,00,290 are women voters.

Of the total voters, 2306 are above 85 years of age, 2445 are between 18 and 19 years of age, 780 are differently-abled and four are transgenders. The number of non-resident voters included in the list is 229. Ten candidates are in the fray in Palakkad.

Heavy security has been arranged at the problematic booths, including the leadership of the Central Army. The polling, which was scheduled to be held on the 13th along with the Wayanad and Chelakkara by-elections, was postponed to today in the backdrop of the Kalpathi Rathotsavam. The counting of votes for all three seats is on the 23rd.

All three candidates are optimistic. Rahul Mamkootathil responded that he will get a good majority in Palakkad. Rahul said that today is the most important day in his public and personal life. BJP candidate in Palakkad C Krishnakumar is also optimistic of his victory. He told the media in the morning that people will vote for development. He clarified that the controversies will not affect the BJP. P Sarin responded that people in Palakkad will vote in favor of the Left.