Riding high on the euphoria generated by recent visits of AICC general Secretary Rahul Gandhi and a battery of its Union Ministers, the Congress is going it all alone this assembly elections in Bihar hoping for a better showing.

The Congress has decided to put up its candidates in all 243 assembly constituencies in Bihar. It has already released its first list of 84 candidates, ahead of its rivals--ruling NDA and RJD-LJP combine.

Buoyed with the success of recent visits of Rahul Gandhi and others and a number of heavyweights from RJD and LJP joining the party, the grand old party expects "a better showing" this elections, state Congress spokesperson Prem Chandra Mishra said.

But as it appears now the party could gain by getting votes of minorities and upper castes, especially Rajputs and Brahmins, a party insider feels.

Congress' decimation as a viable political entity in Bihar has been complete in a flat 15 years after it handed over the reins of the state to the then Janata Dal led by Lalu Prasad in Bihar.

Congress which had to be content with nine seats and six per cent vote in October 2005 assembly polls, has been relegated to the fifth position in terms of tally behind the JD(U), BJP, RJD and LJP.

It performed equally miserably in the assembly polls held in February 2005 winning 10 seats with five per cent vote share - its lowest vote share-ever - and stood fourth behind the JD(U), RJD and BJP.