Patna, Sep 10 - An estimated 40 percent turnout was recorded in bye-elections to seven Bihar assembly constituencies amid peaceful voting, officials said.

The by-polls were peaceful and no untoward incident was reported from anywhere, police officials said here.

In over a dozen of villages in flood and drought affected areas, people boycotted the polls, accusing the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) government of failure in providing relief.

The vote is seen as a mini referendum for the Nitish Kumar government ahead of state assembly polls slated for next year.

The seven constituencies that went to polls are Warisnagar, Kalyanpur, Bochaha, Chenari, Aurai, Chainpur and Ramgarh.