NPP, with 19 seats, emerged as the second-largest party this time, giving a tough fight to the ruling party, which got 21 seats.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav too, although without any insistence from Nitish, did not join Mamata Banerjee’s Lucknow rally.

While Mukherjee's "supporters" are hopeful that his presence will be comforting in times of political turmoil, his "opponents" expect him t...