BJP leads in Chhattisgarh

RAIPUR - Chhattisgarh’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday established an early lead over the Congress in the Vaishali Nagar assembly seat as officials counted votes cast in Saturday’s by-election.

Jageshwar Sahu was leading by some 600 votes over Congress candidate Bhajan Singh Nirankari, officials said. The counting of votes started in Durg district at 8 a.m.

About 52 percent of the 211,000 electorate voted Saturday. The by-election followed BJP legislator Saroj Pandey’s election to the Lok Sabha in May.