Imphal, 22 January: In a significant political shift, the Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) led by Nitish Kumar has withdrawn its support from the BJP-led government in Manipur. The lone JD(U) MLA, Md. Abdul Nasir, will now sit in the Opposition benches in the state Assembly. While this move is unlikely to affect the BJP government’s stability, it sends a strong political message, particularly given JD(U)’s position as a key ally of the BJP at the Centre and in Bihar. The withdrawal follows the National People’s Party (NPP), led by Conrad Sangma, also pulling out of the Biren Singh government in the past few months.
JD(U) had won six seats in the 2022 Assembly elections in Manipur, but five of its MLAs later defected to the BJP, consolidating the ruling party’s position. The BJP now holds 37 seats in the 60-member Assembly, with additional support from the Naga People’s Front and three Independents, ensuring a comfortable majority.
Ksh Biren Singh, who heads the JD(U) unit in Manipur, has formally informed Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla of the party’s decision. In his letter, Singh clarified that JD(U)’s support for the BJP-led government had been withdrawn, especially after the party joined the INDIA alliance. He further stated that JD(U)’s lone MLA, Md. Abdul Nasir, should now be considered part of the Opposition in the Assembly.
JD(U)’s withdrawal of support follows the party’s broader shift in alignment. After initially joining the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar, Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) later returned to the INDIA opposition bloc, signaling potential changes in its political alliances ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.