New Delhi [India], January 22: JD(U) national spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad has refuted reports claiming that the party is withdrawing its support from the BJP-led government in Manipur, calling these reports “misleading and baseless.”
In a statement to ANI, Prasad clarified that the president of the Manipur unit acted independently without consulting the central leadership, leading to disciplinary action and his removal from the post.
“This is misleading and baseless. The party has taken cognizance of this matter and the president of the Manipur unit has been removed from his position. We continue to support the NDA, and our support for the NDA government in Manipur will remain intact. The Manipur unit did not communicate with the central leadership, and the letter was written by the Manipur JD(U) chief on his own. Considering this an act of indiscipline, action has been taken, and he has been relieved of his position,” Prasad said.
He further emphasized, “We stand with the NDA, and the state unit will continue working towards the development of Manipur.”
Earlier, in a statement from the JD(U) Manipur Chief, Ksh. Biren Singh, the party announced that its lone MLA in Manipur would be treated as an Opposition MLA in the state assembly.
The statement explained that in the 2022 State Assembly elections, JD(U) had fielded six candidates, of which five later defected to the BJP. The trial under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution regarding the defection of these five MLAs is pending before the Speaker’s Tribunal. Following JD(U)’s inclusion in the INDIA bloc, the party withdrew its support to the BJP-led government in Manipur by informing the Governor, the Chief Minister, and the Speaker.
The letter also clarified, “As a result, the lone JD(U) MLA in Manipur, Md Abdul Nasir, has been moved to the Opposition Bench in the last assembly session by the Speaker. It is reiterated that JD(U) in Manipur does not support the BJP-led government and Md Abdul Nasir will be treated as an opposition MLA in the House.”