India's opposition challenge to Modi may be imploding

India 's opposition coalition to challenge the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party led by Narendra Modi is in disarray.

Nitish Kumar , a regional leader, re-joined the BJP after leaving a state-level ruling coalition and re-joining the BJP .

Two regional leaders in the alliance have distanced themselves from the Congress and made it clear that they will go it alone in their respective states.

It took decades for the fragmented opposition to come together and defeat the dominant Congress .

So is the INDIA alliance doomed? "The alliance is in troubled waters, but they can still find ways to contest together," says Mr Verma .

The elections hinged on the Congress ' performance in over 250 seats in the BJP stronghold of northern and western India .