This special report focuses on the escalating infighting within Bihar’s Mahagathbandhan in the Bachhwara assembly constituency, located in a region once known as the ‘Leningrad of Bihar’. The conflict pits alliance partners Congress against the Communist Party of India (CPI), with both fielding separate candidates, which may benefit the BJP. A local RJD leader, expressing frustration, stated, ‘unke kaaran Bihar Mein Mahagathbandhan gadbad AA gayi hai. Jisake ka Congress ke kaaran’ (The Grand Alliance in Bihar is in disarray because of them, because of Congress). The CPI has nominated veteran leader Awadhesh Kumar Rai, who narrowly lost to the BJP by just 484 votes in the 2020 election. Meanwhile, RJD leaders have been directed to support the CPI candidate, deepening the fracture within the opposition alliance and setting the stage for a contentious three-cornered fight.