New Delhi:
A high turnout marked the by-polls to 18 assembly seats in four states on Thursday. The first major test of strength for BJP since the Lok Sabha polls was also an acid test for the new grand alliance of Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad and Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar in Bihar.
The state, where by-polls were held in 10 seats, recorded the lowest turnout -- 46.42 per cent.
The three constituencies in Karnataka recorded 72 per cent polling, followed by Madhya Pradesh (70 per cent in three seats) and Punjab (66 per cent in two seats).
The counting of votes will be on August 25.
In Bihar, the exercise is as much a trial of strength for the BJP -- which had won six of the 10 seats in the 2010 assembly elections -- as for the Lalu-Nitish combine, which is seeking to stage a comeback after the rout in the general elections. The outcome is expected to be a pointer to the public mood ahead of next year's assembly polls.
Karnataka saw a close battle between the BJP and the state's ruling Congress in the three assembly constituencies - Chikkodi-Sadalga, Bellary Rural and Shikaripura.
For Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, a lot is at stake as he faces the first popularity test after Congress' not-so-happy show in the Lok Sabha polls. The party managed to secure only nine of the 28 seats against the BJP's 17.