Patna/IBNS, Aug. 3 -- Former political strategist and Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) chief Prashant Kishor has taken an early 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 been a BJP stronghold since 1995, making the contest politically significant.

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

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secu...