Giving the break-up of polling percentage in the 118 constituencies spread over ten states and one Union Territory, chief election commissioner M S GIll said Lakshadweep recorded the highest 82 per cent, followed by Sikkim and West Bengal (65 each), Andhra Pradesh (Narasaraopet-62 per cent), Arunachal Pradesh (55), Assam (55), Bihar (56), Madhya Pradesh (55), Orissa (55), Tripura (50) and Uttar Pradesh (55).

Balloting in 400 polling booths in West Bengal could not take place because of floods. Voting will take place there on October 5.

Prominent among the candidates in the fifth phase of the 13th general elections are Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee (Lucknow), Congress president Sonia Gandhi (Amethi), BSP vice-president Mayawati(Akbarpur-Res), Janata Dal (United) president Sharad Yadav and RJD president Laloo Prasad Yadav (Madhepura), former Union minister Santosh Mohan Deb of the Congress (Silchar) and Lok Sabha deputy speaker PM Sayeed (Lakshadweep).

Militants struck in a big way in Manipur when 16 people, including five CRPF personnel, were killed in an ambush by the banned United National Liberation Front in Thoubal district, according director general of police L Jogeshwar Singh.

Polling for outer Manipur Lok Sahba seat is slated for Monday.

In Tripura and Assam, which recorded an estimated 60 and 50 per cent polling respectively, militants gunned down 12 people, including nine security personnel, while a local RJD leader was shot dead allegedly by supporters of a JD (U) MLA in Madhepura in Bihar. One person was shot dead in a group clash at Bhimi village in Amethi constituency though police attributed it to an old enmity.

Militants belonging to National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) opposed to the electionsambushed a poll patrol party soon after polling began killing seven, including four CRPF personnel, at Tuichakma in Dhalai district, CRPF sources said in Agartala. Others killed were two civilians and a driver.

The outlawed ULFA militants shot dead five security personnel posted at Hahchora polling station in Barpeta constituency of Assam about 90 minutes before commencement of polling. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was one of the earliest to cast his vote in his Lucknow constituency while polling in Amethi, from where Congress president Sonia Gandhi is seeking election, was heavy and by and large peaceful.

Stray incidents of bomb throwing were reported from Jagaddal and Bhatpara in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. Very poor turn out of voters was recorded in three Assembly segments of Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat and this was attributed to a poll boycott call given by GNLF chief Subhas Gheising in protest against tardy development of the hill district.

ULFA militants, who began a bloodbath on Saturday to enforce its poll boycott call by killing nine people in Tinsukhia and Nagaon districts of Assam, disrupted poll process on Sunday by snatching ballots and driving away poll personnel at several places at gun point.

Polling was delayed in three places of Macherla Assembly segment of Nasraopet as voters did not show up because of a boycott call by People's War Group (PWG). Officials said polling started later at 1030 hours. In Amethi, where one person was killed, Congress alleged that one of its polling agents was beaten up by a group led by BJP candidate Sanjay Singh.

The final phase of polling covered 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal, 31 in UP, 14 in Assam, 12 in Bihar, 11 in Orissa, two each in Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura and MPand one each in AP, Sikkim and Lakshadweep. Simultaneous polling was held for 56 Assembly seats in Arunachal Pradesh, 32 in Sikkim, seven in Andhra Pradesh, five in Karnataka besides bypolls for five seats in West Bengal and one seat in Tripura. Pollingfor Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag Lok Sabha seat would be held on Monday and that for Dhubri in Assam and Bihar's Rajmahal, Bhagalpur, Khagaria, Purnea and two Assembly segments of Katihar on October 28.