If the NDA looks like a stable coalition with a clear narrative, the Opposition gathbandhan, a limited alliance of the RJD, Congress and three Communist parties, is yet to get its act together although individual parties have been doing bit acts. For instance, the Congress has hit the road with Kanhaiya Kumar as its face. However, now reduced to an appendage of the RJD, it needs to distinguish itself with a distinct social and political agenda to regain relevance. The CPI-ML, the largest of the Communist parties, has improved its electoral showing and wants to head a broad platform of civil society bodies and unions representing unorganised groups. The RJD, reduced to a family enterprise, has substantial appeal among Yadavs and Muslims, but will need allies to contribute big for the coalition to expand its appeal. RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav’s challenge will be to keep the gathbandhan together and offer a narrative that offsets the criticism about its past record in office while challenging the NDA’s claims on governance. A third, new factor in Bihar politics is Prashant Kishor, whose Jan Suraj Party upturned calculations by winning 10% of the votes in recent bypolls. How each of these actors plot their campaign will decide the fate of the Bihar polls.