Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) withdraws support to BJP-led government in Manipur

NEW DELHI: The Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)], a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)- led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), officially withdrew its support to the BJP-led government in Manipur on Wednesday.
The lone JD(U) MLA in the state assembly, Md Abdul Nasir, will sit in the Opposition benches.
In a statement, the JD(U) said, “It is, hereby, further reiterated that Janata Dal (United), Manipur Unit does not support the BJP-led state government in Manipur, and our lone MLA, Md Abdul Nasir, shall be treated as an opposition MLA in the House.”
The statement read, “After Janata Dal(United) became a part of the INDIA bloc (in August 2022), support to the BJP led government was withdrawn by Janata Dal(United) by informing the office of Hon’ble governor, leader of the house (Chief Minister) and Speaker. As such, seating arrangement of the lone MLA of Janata Dal(United) in Manipur, Md Abdul Nasir is made in the Opposition Bench in the last session of assembly by the Speaker.”
In August 2022, Nitish Kumar’s JDU j joined the opposition INDIA bloc but later switched back to the NDA.
In the 2022 Manipur assembly elections, the JD(U) had won six seats. However, five of its MLAs later switched allegiance to the BJP. Their disqualification under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution is still pending before the Speaker’s tribunal.
Despite the withdrawal, the BJP-led government under chief minister N Biren Singh is unlikely to face any immediate challenge to its stability, as the BJP enjoys a strong majority in the assembly.
The BJP holds 37 seats in the 60-member Assembly and is supported by five Naga People’s Front MLAs and three Independents.