Kolkata, Aug 18 - An average of 41 percent polling was reported in the by-elections to two West Bengal assembly seats in the city Tuesday.

While the poll percentage was 47 percent in the Sealdah constituency, 37 percent of voters exercised their franchise in Bowbazar, according to state Chief Electoral Officer Debasish Sen.

Sen said there were no reports of any untoward incidents.

The by-polls became necessary after Congress legislators Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Somen Mitra were disqualified by Speaker H.A. Halim under the anti-defection law for crossing over to the Trinamool Congress.

Both of them are now Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha members.

In Bowbazar, the main fight is between Swarna Kamal Saha of the Trinamool and Minati Gomes - an independent supported by the state's ruling Left Front.

Somen Mitra's wife Sikha Deb is the Trinamool candidate from Seladah, with the Communist Party of India nominating Prabir Deb there.

The counting is on Aug 21.