JD(U) state chief sacked for withdrawing support to BJP
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, January 22 2025:
Janata Dal (United) Manipur State Unit on Wednesday withdrew its support from the ruling BJP government.
In this regard, Unit president Ksh Biren sent a letter to the governor, house leader (chief minister) and the speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly.
Hours later, Bihar chief minister and party president Nitish Kumar sacked its Manipur chief Ksh Biren Singh.
The drama unfolded after State Unit president Ksh Biren in a statement on Wednesday informed that the State Unit has only one MLA Md Abdul Nasir, in the Manipur assembly.
Of the six JD (U) candidates, who won the assembly election in February-March 2022, five joined the ruling BJP a few months later.
Ksh Biren further said that trial under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution of the five MLAs who defected to the BJP in Manipur is pending before the Speaker's tribunal.
He continued that its lone MLA would be considered an opposition member in the state, following the arrangements made in the last session of the Assembly.
In the announcement sacking him, JD(U) said that Ksh Biren took the decision to withdraw support from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Manipur without consulting the party's central leaders.
It also said that its MLA will not sit in the opposition bench in the assembly.
The state BJP-led government has 37 MLAs in the 60-member assembly, along with support of five MLAs of Naga People's Front, and three independents.
JD(U), which won 12 seats in the general election this year, is among the key allies whose support helped the BJP reach the majority mark after its seat tally dropped this time.
BJP and JD(U) are also allies in Bihar, where the assembly elections are due this year.
Nitish Kumar, known for his flip-flops across the political divide, returned to the NDA fold last year after being one of the key players in the opposition bloc INDIA .