JD-U officially severs ties with BJP in state
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, September 12 2022:
Days after five JD-U MLAs merged with BJP following JD-U's withdrawal from the NDA, the party on Monday broke its ties with BJP in the state too.
An official announcement in this regard was made by the party's state president ex-MLA Ksh Biren during a press conference held at the party office here on Monday.
At the press conference, Biren said that the party's national executive meet held in Patna, Bihar on August 9 decided to break ties with NDA and the party 's leader Nitish Kumar had formed a new government in Bihar without NDA partners.
In the aftermath of the decision, the party's state unit has also withdrawn its support to BJP in the state too.
There was some delay in making the announcement as the state unit has to wait for clearance from the national leaders.
They have submitted the withdrawal of support letter to the Governor on Monday noon, he said and added that the same copies will be forwarded to the chief minister and the speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly.
As for the merger of five JD-U MLAs with BJP, he said, the party is waiting for legal opinions regarding possible actions which could be taken against them, he said.
On the other hand, Ksh Biren announced the appointment of former minister Nimaichand Luwang as the party's state chief coordinator.
Appreciating the appointment, Dr Nimaichand said that apart from MLAs there are other members of a political party and merger of some MLAs does not change the status of the party.
It is usual for some MLAs to jump ship to seek opportunity in politics.
Their loyalty is with power but not with any party.
All the five MLAs were in race for BJP ticket and they contested the election as JD (U) candidates after being denied the BJP ticket and so it is nothing surprising for them to take an opportunity to shift their allegiance, he said.
CM Biren also jumped from DRPP to Congress where he remained as a minister, and then to BJP where he became the chief minister.
He also said that there are still several dedicated and true members and some MLAs leaving the party cannot affect the party's strength.
He also said that JD-U will become the next leading political party in the country after the downfall of BJP and given the voting trend of the state, the party is confident that it will rise to power both at the Centre and in the state soon.
JD-U vice-president ex-MLA Kh Loken and O Nabakishore were also present during the press conference.