Nepal polls register turnout of nearly 70 percent

Home Ministry spokesman Shankar Koirala 37 people were arrested for trying to foil the balloting. "The members of the dissenting bloc tried to obstruct the elections at many places but all in vain," he told the media.

The polls will lead to the formation of a 601-member assembly to draft a new Constitution, including 240 elected under a direct voting system.

There was proportionate voting for 335 seats and the remaining 26 members will be nominated by the government.

Results under the direct voting system are expected in a week and those under the proportionate voting after a fortnight, officials said earlier.