Polling began at 7 am in 27 constituencies of the 30-member Pondicherry assembly in the second and final phase of elections in the Union Territory.

Coverage: Assembly Elections 2006

Over 2,000 police personnel, including four companies of Central Reserve Police Force, India Reserve Battalion and Maharashtra police, besides home guards, have been drafted for poll duty in the Pondicherry and Karaikal regions.

About eight lakh people are eligible to cast their votes in this phase.

In all, there are 660 polling booths and out of this 98 had been identified as 'sensitive and hypersensitive.' Additional security forces have been deployed in these booths.

Among those prominent in the fray are Chief Minister N Rangasamy, seeking a third straight win from Thattanchavady, former Chief Ministers V Vythialingam (Congress) and R V Janakiraman (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam).

Polling in the remaining three assembly constituencies -- Mahe and Palloor in Kerala and Yanam in Andhra Pradesh was held on May three.

Striking a grand alliance with the DMK, another major contender for power, the Congress is seeking to retain power contesting 16 seats, leaving 11 to the DMK, two to Pattali Makkal Katchi and one to the Communist Party of India.

The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, contesting in 16 seats, has allotted nine seats to Puducherry Makkal Congress, two to Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and one to Dalit Panthers of India.

A total of 199 candidates, including nine women and 69 independents, are in the fray. In all 6.13 lakh voters have been issued Electoral Picture Identity Cards. Counting of votes will be taken up on May 11.