JD(U) sacks Manipur unit chief for pulling support, says ‘we are with NDA’

Imphal/New Delhi: Confusion prevailed on Wednesday regarding the Janata Dal (United)'s stance on its support to the BJP-led government in Manipur. A letter from the JD(U)'s Manipur unit to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla stated the withdrawal of support, but the party's central leadership dismissed the claim, asserting its continued support for the NDA government.

In the letter, JD(U) Manipur state president Ksh Biren Singh reiterated the party’s non-support for the BJP-led government in the state. Referring to the defection of five of the party’s six MLAs to the BJP after the 2022 assembly elections, Singh stated, "JD(U) further reiterates that it does not support the BJP-led government in Manipur, and the lone MLA, Md Abdul Nasir, shall be treated as an opposition MLA in the House."

The letter also mentioned that the seating arrangement for Nasir had already been made in the opposition benches during the last session of the Manipur Assembly.

Shortly after the letter surfaced, the JD(U)'s central leadership sacked Ksh Biren Singh. Party national spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan cited "indiscipline" as the reason behind the decision. Ranjan reaffirmed the party’s alignment with the BJP-led NDA, stating, "The JD(U) continues to support the BJP-led government in Manipur and across the country. The letter by the state unit does not reflect the party's official stance."

The JD(U) secretary general in Manipur, Maisnam Dorendro Singh, clarified that the letter sent to the governor was intended to reiterate the party’s earlier position and did not indicate any fresh withdrawal of support. “With the appointment of a new governor, the state unit sought to restate the party’s stance. There is no mention of any fresh withdrawal of support to the BJP government,” he explained.

Dorendro Singh also addressed the dismissal of Ksh Biren Singh, stating, “We have heard about the sacking through various sources, but we are yet to receive any official communication regarding this decision.”

Efforts to contact the lone JD(U) MLA in Manipur, Md Abdul Nasir, were unsuccessful.

The controversy is unlikely to affect the BJP-led government in the state, which holds a comfortable majority in the 60-member Assembly. The BJP commands 37 seats and is supported by five MLAs from the Naga People’s Front and three independents.