BJP Ally JD(U) Withdraws Support from N Biren Singh Government in Manipur
The JD(U), led by Nitish Kumar, withdraws support from the BJP-led government in Manipur. While the BJP retains a majority, this move signals growing tensions between the allies ahead of Bihar elections.
Imphal: In a surprising political move, the Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United) has officially withdrawn its support from the BJP-led government in Manipur, headed by Chief Minister N Biren Singh. The JD(U)'s lone MLA in Manipur, Md. Abdul Nasir, will now sit on the Opposition benches.
This decision, while not affecting the BJP’s majority in the 60-member Manipur Assembly, is a symbolic setback, as the JD(U) remains a significant BJP ally at the Centre and in Bihar. This announcement follows the National People's Party's decision to pull its support from the Manipur government earlier this year.
The JD(U) had won six seats in the 2022 Manipur Assembly election. However, five of its MLAs defected to the BJP shortly after, a case still under review by the Speaker’s Tribunal. The BJP currently commands a comfortable majority with 37 MLAs, supported by five from the Naga People's Front and three Independents.
In a letter to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, JD(U) Manipur unit chief Ksh Biren Singh emphasized that the party no longer supports the BJP-led government. "Our lone MLA, Md. Abdul Nasir, shall be treated as an Opposition MLA in the House," the letter stated.
The JD(U) decision coincides with the party’s increasing alignment with the INDIA Opposition bloc, marking a growing rift with its traditional ally, the BJP. This development also adds to the political complexities ahead of Bihar’s Assembly elections, where the BJP and JD(U) remain allies despite Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s history of shifting political allegiances.
What's Your Reaction?
