Recording its worst performance since 2010, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)–Congress grand alliance stands decimated in the Bihar assembly election. As the high-stakes contest delivered a historic victory to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal-United (JDU), here are five key factors that likely contributed to the dramatic collapse of the Tejashwi–Rahul partnership.

A QUARRELING ALLIANCE

The decision to project Tejashwi Yadav as the coalition’s chief ministerial candidate proved contentious. “One of the biggest mistakes we made was announcing Tejashwi as CM. We never wanted this, and Congress appeared reluctant throughout,” a senior Congress leader admitted.

Congress leaders privately felt Tejashwi carried heavy baggage — corruptio

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