Not just in Bihar, across the country the Congress has been forced to bow before its INDIA allies. In Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena-UBT and the Nationalist Congress Party have refused any leeway to the Congress. The Samajwadi Party drove a hard bargain in Uttar Pradesh and ensured its interests prevailed when constituencies were distributed. Even the DMK, a magnanimous ally, made it clear that it helmed the ship in Tamil Nadu and hence, held the veto in seat talks. The Congress central leadership has grudgingly accepted playing second fiddle to its allies even at the cost of angering state leaders because any more squabbles within the INDIA bloc, which is yet to discuss a common minimum programme or joint campaigns, will be poor optics. Also, the Congress recognises that in the short term, it needs a leg-up from regional players to clock a decent tally of seats in Parliament.

The regional parties recognise that a national party is a useful ally in the general elections. But they are also careful not to let the national party revive and turn into the behemoth it once was. This is the big contradiction the INDIA bloc needs to resolve as it struggles to offer itself as a viable alternative to the BJP.