Chennai, Aug 18 - A high turnout was recorded in the bypolls to the five assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu Tuesday, officials said.

Despite a boycott call by major political parties, polling got off to a brisk start in the five constituencies - Bargur, Tondamuthur, Cumbum, Illayangudi and Srivaikundam - in the morning.

According to the Election Commission, Cumbum witnessed highest turnout with 76 percent polling followed by Srivaikundam and Bargur with 72 percent, and Illayankudi and Thondamuthur polling 67 and 58 percent respectively.

The high voting percentage seems to have negated the boycott call of the AIADMK, the PMK and the MDMK on the grounds that 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.

Counting is scheduled for Friday and the results will be declared the same day.