PATNA, India (Reuters) -Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s national alliance faces a tough regional election in the state of Bihar next month, due to youth unemployment and distrust over voter rolls, which could pose risks to his coalition that relies on regional partners.

Bihar, in eastern India, is one of the country’s poorest states and its third most populous, with over 130 million people. Its chief minister Nitish Kumar has previously sided with both Modi and the opposition, but is currently a key partner in Modi’s National Democratic Alliance.

The state is part of a politically crucial heartland region and any cracks within the NDA in November’s assembly vote in Bihar could threaten Modi’s coalition, with elections to follow within months in the states of Assam, West Bengal, and

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