Polling in 15 assembly segments in Kerala's Kannur and Kasaragod districts where elections are being held in the third and final phase, began on Wednesday morning.

Coverage: Assembly Elections 2006

The voting began at 07:00 am in 1,503 booths in 10 assembly constituencies Kannur district and 843 polling stations in the five segments in Kasaragod amid heightened security cover after the authorities classified all polling booths in the two districts as 'sensitive'.

Altogether 85 candidates are in the fray from the two districts where the main fight is between the traditional rivals -- the Congress-led United Democratic Front and the Communist Party of India -Marxist led Left Democratic Front.

The Bharatiya Janata Party, which is hoping to open its account in the assembly, also has put up candidates in all the segments.

An estimated 24.08 lakh people are expected to cast their votes during the polling, which will conclude at 05:00 pm.

Around 13,000 security personnel including those drawn from Haryana, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh have been deployed to ensure smooth conduct of the polls in the region.

Nearly 1,000 digital cameras have also been installed in select polling booths to capture the pattern of voting to prevent irregularities.

The first phase of elections in the state was held on April 22 in six southern districts while six central and northern districts went to polls on April 29.

Inspector General of Police (North Zone) M N Krishnamurty and DIG (North) V Shantaram are camping in Kannur and Kasaragod respectively to ensure trouble-free polls.

The polling for the assembly seats of Mahe and Pallur in the Mahe enclave of Pondicherry also began this morning. About 29,000 people are expected to cast their votes in the two constituencies where around 400 security personnel are deployed to ensure free and fair polls.