Raipur, Nov 10 (Inditop.com) 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.