New Delhi, Nov. 14 -- The INDIA bloc's heavy defeat in the 2025 Bihar Assembly Elections has sparked deep questioning within the alliance, with leaders publicly alleging "vote chori" even as internal fault lines appear far more central to the outcome. At the heart of the setback was a visible leadership disconnect between its most prominent campaigners, Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav.

The two leaders began the campaign with a strong show of unity during the Voter Adhikar Yatra, which initially energised the alliance's cadre. But after that early push, they did not appear together at rallies during crucial weeks of the campaign. Their absence from joint platforms prevented the INDIA bloc from delivering a unified message, especially when...