Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) sacks Manipur unit chief, says will back BJP govt in state

The Janata Dal (United) on Wednesday said it sacked its Manipur unit president Ksh. Biren Singh, to quell speculation about its ties with BJP.

JD(U)’s national spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan told PTI that Singh’s removal was due to indiscipline and asserted that the party would continue to support the BJP-led government in the northeastern state. “Our party has worked diligently to strengthen the NDA and will continue to do so,” he added.

In a letter to Manipur governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, state JD(U) chief Ksh Biren Singh said,”In the election to state assembly of Manipur held in February/ March 2022, six candidates set up by JD (U) were returned. After a few months, five MLAs of JD (U) defected to BJP. Trial under Tenth Schedule of India of the five MLAs is pending before the Speaker’s Tribunal.”

“After JD (U) became part of India Bloc, support to the BJP led government was withdrawn by JD(U)… as such, seating arrangement of the lone MLA of JD(U) in Manipur Md Abdul Nasir is made in the opposition bench in the last session of the Assembly by the Speaker,” the letter added.

The lone JD(U) MLA in the state, Md Abdul Nasir, will sit in the opposition benches, the party unit chief said.

The withdrawal, however, will not have any impact on the Biren Singh government as the BJP has 37 seats in the 60-member assembly and is also supported by five MLAs of Naga People’s Front and three independents.