HALIFAX -- The majority Liberal government picked up two seats in the Nova Scotia byelections Tuesday, while the third-place NDP won another.

It was a tight race in the riding of Dartmouth South, with NDP candidate Marian Mancini garnering 2,274 votes, edging out the Liberal's Tim Rissesco by 81 votes.

That seat has been vacant since the death of Liberal member Allan Rowe in March.

Liberal David Wilton took Cape Breton Centre with 3,060 votes, beating out NDP candidate Tammy Martin, who had 2,538 votes.

Meanwhile in the riding of Sydney-Whitney Pier, Liberal Derek Mombourquette handily won that seat with 3,794 votes, while NDP candidate Madonna Doucette received 2,332 votes.

The Cape Breton ridings were previously held by NDP members Frank Corbett and Gordie Gosse, who resigned their seats earlier this year.

The Liberals now hold 34 of the legislature's 51 seats.

The Progressive Conservatives have 10 seats while the NDP hold six and the remaining seat belongs to an independent member.