While the development does not threaten the NDA alliance at the center of its government in Manipur, it is a very strong message from the key ally before the assembly elections in Bihar.
On Wednesday, the Janata Dal (United) announced withdrawing support to the N Biren Singh government in Manipur in a setback for the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the Manipur state unit of the party said.
However, shortly after the letter, addressed to Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, led to a political uproar, Nitish Kumar’s party clarified that it continues to support the N Biren Singh-led government.
“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 JD(U) said in a statement.
The lone JD(U) MLA in the Manipur assembly, Md Abdul Nasir, has withdrawn support from the ruling alliance and will now join the opposition, the state unit of JD(U) said.
However, shortly after the statement of the JD(U) state unit, the party dismissed the claims of withdrawing support as “baseless.” The JD(U) also sacked its Manipur unit president, Kshetrimayum Biren Singh, for writing a letter without consulting the central leadership.
While the development does not threaten the NDA at the center or its government in Manipur, the move created a ruffle in the ruling NDA camp ahead of the assembly elections in Bihar.
The BJP has 37 seats in the 60-member assembly and is supported by five MLAs of the Naga People’s Front and three independents. In the 2022 Manipur Assembly Elections, the JD(U) won six seats. However, five of its six MLAs later switched allegiance to the BJP.
In August 2022, Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) joined the opposition INDIA bloc. However, Nitish later switched sides to rejoin the NDA.
