Puducherry, April 13 (IANS) There was brisk and peaceful polling in Puducherry Wednesday as voters lined up to elect a new 30-member assembly.

 
 Eighteen percent polling was registered at 10 a.m., an election official said.
 
 Voters began assembling at the 867 polling booths from 7.45 a.m. onwards to cast their vote early to escape the heat. Voting began at 8 a.m.
 
 Polling was proceeding peacefully across the union territory. All the polling booths were monitored live through web camera, the official said.
 
 Over 810,000 voters - about 390,500 men, 419,800 women and five transgenders - are expected to decide the fate of 187 candidates in the fray.