Chennai:
An estimated 73 per cent polling was recorded in the bye-election to the Pudukkottai Assembly constituency in Tamil Nadu where ruling AIADMK and DMDK faced a direct contest.
Poll officials said voting was "by and large peaceful."
Voters turned up in good numbers and brisk polling was witnessed right from the morning in the constituency where Kathik Thondaiman of AIADMK and DMDK's Jahir Hussain are in the fray among 18 others.
Other opposition parties, including DMK and Vaiko's MDMK, had not fielded their candidates.
Poll officials said the EVMs would be stored in the strong room of the counting centre which would be guarded by Central Armed Police Force.
The by-poll was necessitated following the death of CPI MLA SP Muthukumaran in a road accident on April 1.