Chennai, Aug 21 - Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK-Congress combine Friday took early leads in all five constituencies where by-elections had been held Aug 18.

Initial results released by the state election commission showed DMK candidates in the lead at Bargur, Cumbum and Illayangudi, while Congress candidates were in the lead at Tondamuthur and Srivaikundam.

Tamil film star Vijaykanth's DMDK was trailing a distant second in all five constituencies. The bypolls were boycotted by the state's principal opposition parties AIADMK and PMK, which expressed apprehension that the polling would not be free and fair.