A man votes during Kazakhstan's parliamentary election in Almaty on Jan 10, 2021. (RUSLAN PRYANIKOV / AFP)

NUR-SULTAN - Kazakhstan's ruling Nur Otan Party secured 71.97 percent of the vote in the parliamentary elections on Sunday, an exit poll showed.

A total of 312 candidates contested for 98 seats in the lower house of the parliament, or Majilis

The Ak Zhol Democratic Party grabbed 10.18 percent of the vote, followed by the People's Party of Kazakhstan with 9.03 percent, according to the poll conducted by the "Public Opinion" Research Institute.

The Auyl Party and the Adal Party did not pass the seven-vote threshold to enter parliament.

During his visit to the campaign headquarters, Chairman of the Nur Otan Party Nursultan Nazarbayev offered congratulations on the Party's sweeping victory in the elections.

ALSO READ: Kazakhstan's Tokayev gets veteran leader's backing for presidency

Nazarbayev said the elections took place as the country marks the 30th anniversary of its independence. With the Nur Otan Party, Kazakhstanis are able to advance the country's development.

A total of 312 candidates contested for 98 seats in the lower house of the parliament, or Majilis, on Sunday.

The final results will be announced by the Central Election Commission no later than Jan 17.