Voters turned out in large numbers on Tuesday for by-elections to six seats across Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Puducherry and Assam, with overall turnout crossing 76 per cent.

Tamil Nadu's Maduranthakam assembly seat recorded the highest polling at 86.26 per cent, according to Election Commission data. Dharapuram in the same state saw 80.30 per cent turnout.

In West Bengal, Nandigram recorded 80.89 per cent and Rejinagar 80.07 per cent. Puducherry's Thattanchavady seat saw 80.81 per cent polling. Assam's Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency, the only parliamentary seat in the round, recorded 76.20 per cent.

Polling was held from 7 am to 6 pm and officials described it as largely peaceful. Central forces were deployed across the constituencies.

The Rejinagar bypoll saw high drama when Aam Janata Unnayan Party chief Humayun Kabir was detained by police from his party office while polling was underway. The seat fell vacant after his resignation.

Counting of votes is scheduled for October 9, with the entire election process to be completed by October 11. The results will test the strength of regional parties ahead of bigger electoral battles.