In a by and large peaceful election, the highest percentage of polling was registered in Mizoram (70 per cent), followed by Rajasthan 60 per cent, Delhi 52 per cent and Madhya Pradesh 50 per cent.

Counting will begin on November 28 and all results are expected to be announced by November 29, according to Election Commission officials here.

With both the BJP and the Congress having maximum stakes in the results of these elections, it was a no-holds barred contest in the three north Indian states having a bearing on the life of the BJP-led government at the centre.

According to reports reaching from various states, a few stray incidents of violence were reported. An incident of food poisoning was reported from Delhi'sHauz Khas constituency, while booth capturing was reported from a rural constituency in Madhya Pradesh.

The customary allegations and counter-allegations against each other came from the BJP and the Congress leaders in Delhi, with the Congress demanding a thorough enquiry into the food poisoning incident in Hauz Khas, the constituency of chief minister Sushma Swaraj.

According to chief election commissioner MS Gill, an estimated 52 per cent of the 8.3 million voters cast their ballots in today's elections to the 70-member Delhi assembly. He said that polling was incident-free, barring the food poisoning incident in the Hauz Khas constituency.

A BJP spokesperson complained of poll malpractices by Congress workers at about a dozen places, including rigging at Chandrawal Nagar in Subzi Mandi area and Rajinder Nagar of Delhi.

The Congress alleged that BJP workers resorted to bogus voting and some of them were arrested while attempting impersonation but were let off by the police later.

About 300 slumdwellers, mostly children, were taken ill in the food poisoning case at Gautam Nagar. The Congress said it was aimed at preventing the poor people from exercising their franchise. The BJP, however, denied it, saying it was an attempt at maligning Sushma Swaraj.

In Rajasthan, polling was peaceful, barring some minor incidents of clashes. The director general of police was, however, quoted as saying that about half a dozen cases of polling irregularities have been registered in Udaipur, Tonk, Jhunjhunu and Alwar districts.

Polling was held in 197 assembly constituencies while the election was countermanded in three constituencies of Mundwa in Nagaur district and Bhim and Kumbhalgarh in Rajasumand district following the death of as many candidates of recognised political parties.

In Mizoram, heavy polling was reported. About 55 per cent of the voters exercised their franchise in this north eastern state till 3 pm. Later, voting picked up to take the tally to 70 per cent.

While the capital town, Aizawl,recorded 60 per cent polling, reports from Lunglei reported 49 per cent polling. Chhimtuipui (undivided) recorded about 55 per cent.

However, reports said one Samata Party candidate from Suangpuilow constituency was missing since Tuesday night. In another incident, the police recovered five reels of fuse wire and explosives near Phainuam in Kolasib.

Quite a few polling stations in the state were reported to be inaccessible on account of heavy rains. The Election Commission was reportedly looking into the matter.

Talking to newspersons after the completion of polling here in Delhi, BJP spokesperson M Venkiah Naidu said his party had demanded repoll in 200 booths of six constituencies in Madhya Pradesh. They alleged rigging in as many as a dozen constituencies in the state. It including Raghogarh from where chief minister Digvijay Singh is contesting his seat.

The BJP alleged that the official machinery was misused by the Madhya Pradesh government to further the Congress party's electoralprospects.