Patna/IBNS, Aug. 3 -- Former political strategist and Jan Suraaj Party chief Prashant Kishor has extended his lead over his nearest rival from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Bihar's Bankipur Assembly by-election, where polling was held on July 30.

The by-election to the Kayastha-dominated constituency was necessitated after BJP national president Nitin Nabin resigned from the seat following his election to the Rajya Sabha.

Bankipur has remained a BJP bastion since 1995, making the contest politically significant.

Kishor's decision to contest from Bankipur transformed what would otherwise have been a routine bypoll into one of Bihar's most closely watched political battles.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has fielded Rekha Kumari, ...