Chennai, Aug 18 - Despite a boycott call by major political parties, polling got off to a brisk start in the five Tamil Nadu assembly constituencies where by-elections were being held Tuesday.

Polling in Bargur, Tondamuthur, Cumbum, Illayangudi and Srivaikundam started at 7 a.m. and will conclude at 5 p.m. There are 67 people in the fray for the five seats.

With the opposition parties AIADMK, the PMK and the MDMK boycotting the polls on the grounds the elections will not be free and fair, the fight is between the ruling DMK-Congress combine and the DMDK, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Communist Party of India (CPI), the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) on the opposite side.

Election Commission officials said web cameras had been installed inside polling booths to monitor the exercise.

The polled votes will be counted Friday and results declared the same day.