JDU Manipur chief withdraws support from BJP govt in state, sacked

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Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's party Janata Dal (United) sacked its Manipur chief Ksh Biren Singh today, after Mr Singh sent a letter to the Governor saying the JD(U) has withdrawn support to the BJP-led state government.


The JD(U) 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 later.


The drama unfolded when Mr Singh in a statement today said its MLA would be considered an Opposition member in the state.


In the announcement sacking him, the JD(U) said Mr Singh took the decision to withdraw support from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Manipur without consulting the party's central leaders.


The JD(U) also said its MLA will not sit in the Opposition bench in the assembly.


In the statement, Mr Singh said 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.


The Manipur BJP has 37 MLAs in the 60-member assembly, along with support of five MLAs of the Naga People's Front, and three independents.


The 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.


The BJP and the 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.