New Delhi, January 22: The Janata Dal (United) -JD(U), a constituent of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), officially withdrew its support from the BJP-led government in Manipur on Wednesday.
In a statement issued by JD(U)'s Manipur Chief, the party outlined the circumstances leading to this decision.
The statement noted that in the February/March 2022 State Assembly elections in Manipur, JD(U) had fielded six candidates, all of whom were elected. However, within a few months, five of the JD(U) legislators defected to the BJP. A trial concerning these defections, under the Tenth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, is still pending before the Speaker's Tribunal.
With JD(U) now part of the INDIA alliance, the party formally withdrew its support for the BJP-led government by informing the office of the Governor, the Chief Minister, and the Speaker. Consequently, during the last Assembly session, JD(U)'s sole remaining MLA, Md Abdul Nasir, was assigned to the Opposition Bench by the Speaker.
The JD(U) further reiterated that it does not support the BJP-led government in Manipur, affirming that Md. Abdul Nasir will be treated as an opposition MLA moving forward.
This move comes after the Conrad Sangma-led National People’s Party (NPP) also withdrew its support from the Manipur government in November 2024. Sangma, the Chief Minister of Meghalaya, criticized the leadership of N Biren Singh, stating that the government had "completely failed to resolve the crisis and restore normalcy" in the state.
In the 2022 Manipur Assembly elections, JD(U) secured six seats, but five of its MLAs later joined the BJP. Despite JD(U)’s withdrawal of support, the BJP-led government in Manipur is unlikely to face immediate instability, as the BJP holds 37 seats in the 60-member assembly and retains the backing of five MLAs from the Naga People's Front and three independents.
