WARSAW - Poland's ruling party has won Sunday's parliamentary election, said an exit poll.

As polling stations closed at 9:00 pm in Poland's parliamentary elections, a TNS OBOP exit poll conducted by TVP and TVN television has given center-right Civic Platform (PO) 39.6 percent of the vote.

The biggest rival, the right-wing opposition Law and Justice's (PiS) was backed by 30.1 percent of voters.

The Palikot Movement (RP) was backed by 10.1 percent of the electorate, the Polish Peoples Party (PSL) by 8.2 percent while the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) by 7.7 percent.

According to OBOP estimates, PO may count on 212 seats in the 460-seat Sejm, or the lower house. PiS will likely have 158 mandates, RP 39, PSL 27 and SLD 23 mandates, and the German minority 1 seat.

According to the OBOP public opinion polling centre, turnout reached 47.7 percent.

The State Electoral Committee (PKW) plans to announce full official results of the elections on Tuesday.

Under Poland's constitution, an absolute majority in parliament is needed in order to govern the country.

Analysts say no party has won an outright majority, and Civic Platform party will likely be forced to form a ruling coalition similar to the one forged with the Polish Peoples Party after 2007 polls.

If exit polls are correct then Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Civic Platform will be the largest party in parliament and will attempt to form another four-year coalition government in Poland, though they must look once more for a coalition partner.

Tusk has given his "thank you" speech at the Civic Platform party rally in Warsaw and has thanked all Poles for the vote of confidence.

"I remember the moment four years ago with great happiness and enthusiasm when we received similar news. I want to thank all Poles who four years later confirmed that that vote made a profound sense -- for Poland, for Poles, for us, Civic Platform," Tusk was quoted as saying.

"I'd like to thank all those who voted for us and those who didn't. As for the next four years, we are going to work for everybody, regardless of how they voted."

Jaroslaw Kaczynski, leader of the opposition Law and Justice party, consigned to another defeat, and remained optimistic after what appears to be yet another defeat at the polls -- he lost a presidential election last year, local and European elections, and the general election four years ago, local media reported.

"We will win (one day) because we are in the right. The day of victory is coming, because Poland needs change," he said at his party rally.

Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski said "I'd like to thank everyone who decided to cast their vote. The fight is now over. Now the difficult period of finding a coalition has started."

In Sunday's elections, Poles elect 460 members of the Sejm, or the lower house, from 7,035 candidates, and 100 seats of the upper house Senate, from 501 candidates.

Under the Polish Constitution, the first session of the new Sejm will be held between October 10 and November 8, during which the outgoing prime minister will submit the resignation of his cabinet.

The president will appoint a new prime minister, who will propose a new cabinet within 14 days after the first Sejm session.

The Sejm will then hold a vote of confidence in the new cabinet in December.