Very heavy polling is reported in the single phase Assembly elections in Southern states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Union Territory of Puducherry today. According preliminary reports, 76 to 80 per cent of polling was recorded in Tamil Nadu, a new record. The Previous best was 76.57 per cent polling recorded 44 years ago in 1967. In Kerala, 74.4 per cent of voters exercised their franchise, the highest polling in the last 20 years.In Puducherry too, the voting was very heavy today with 85 per cent of polling for the 30 member Assembly. Talking to reporters in New Delhi, Deputy Election Commissioner J.P. Prakash said, the polling was peaceful in all states.Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral officer Praveen Kumar told AIR Chennai Correspondent that polling continued even after 5 pm, as long ques were seen waiting well before the end of the polling hour. In 16 constituencies in Chennai, over 63 per cent polling was recorded. Both Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M. Karunanidhi and his arch rival Jayalalitha expressed confidence that the front they were leading would win the polls and they would be forming the next government.In Kerala, Kuttiyadi in Kozhikode district tops in polling with 87.2 per cent. Of the fourteen districts, Kannur recorded maximum polling of 80.3 per cent and Thiruvananthapuram the lowest of 68.3 per cent. Pathanamthitta recorded 68.7 per cent. Traditional strong holds of both LDF and UDF witnessed heavy polling indicating neck to neck fight between the two fronts.In Puducherry, 85.1 per cent of voters exercised their franchise for the 30 member Assembly today, just half a per cent less than the previous record of 85.54 per cent set in 2006. Election commission official say, with postal votes yet to be counted, it could also reach a new record this time. The political fortune of Chief Minister Vaithilingam, the breakaway congress leader Rangasamy and a host of others are now sealed in the Electronic Voting Machines which will be opened on the 13th of next month.In West Bengal, 480 candidates are left in the fray for third phase of Assembly Elections in the State. Eight candidates have withdrawn their nominations on last day for withdrawal of candidature today.