The Bihar mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) is as good as gone. As political circles are abuzz with reports of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar joining hands with BJP again.

As it gasps, stars seem to have aligned for JD(U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's return to the BJP-led NDA.

If Nitish Kumar, left without many options, survives with his party and chief minister's post by joining hands with the BJP. It is the BJP that will emerge as the real winner.

In fact, getting Nitish Kumar on its side will be a multibagger for the BJP.

It brings back the BJP in the game in Bihar, brightens its chances of multiplying its seats in Bihar in the 2024 general elections, and, most importantly, deals a body blow to the INDIA bloc at the national level.

Nitish Kumar has jumped between the BJP, Congress, and/or Lalu Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal since 2013, so much so that he has acquired the moniker 'Paltu Ram'. After parting ways with the BJP in 2022, he had taken on the initiative of uniting all opposition forces to jointly take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling party in the 2024 elections.

Kumar's former Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi's cryptic statement, "No door is closed in politics. The door can be opened if needed," has added another layer of suspense to the development.

A flurry of activities have started across Bihar adding fire to the reports that Nitish Kumar will bid adieu to the now-stuttering Congress-led INDIA opposition bloc.

Lau Yadav's RJD is the biggest party with 79 MLAs, while the BJP has 78 MLAs. Nitish Kumar's JD(U) has 45 MLAs and the Congress 19. The Left parties have 14 seats.

In the 243-member Assembly, the mahagathbandhan has 160 MLAs.