“Bihar has a special quality: every time you think you understand it, it gives you a shock.” The line from Huma Qureshi’s web series Maharani feels particularly apt today. The Bihar election results have delivered a jolt to the Mahagathbandhan — one that even seasoned observers of the state did not see coming.

This is not merely about losing seats, nor about exit polls getting it right. The scale of the defeat carries a serious political message for the alliance.

In 2010, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) recorded its worst-ever performance with just 22 seats. Fifteen years later, it appears to be staring at a similarly bleak outcome. The question now is how and why the Grand Alliance suffered such a decisive setback. This article breaks down the five key reasons.

The NDA is on course to c

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