GUWAHATI: The Janata Dal-United on Wednesday sacked its Manipur unit president Ksh Biren Singh, hours after he had written to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla informing him of the party’s withdrawal of support to the BJP-led government in the state.
JD-U national spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan said the party took cognisance of the matter and “relieved” Singh of his position for indiscipline. He said the Manipur unit had not taken the party’s central leadership into confidence.
Stating that the party will continue to support the BJP-led government in the ethnic violence-hit state, Ranjan said, “The JD-U is committed to supporting the NDA, not just in Manipur but across the country.”
In the letter to the governor, JD-U’s Manipur unit chief wrote, “…After Janata Dal (United) became a part of INDIA bloc, support to the BJP-led government was withdrawn by Janata Dal (United) by informing the office of Hon’ble Governor, Leader of the House (Chief Minister) and Speaker.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.”
“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 letter further read.
The JD-U had sprung a surprise by winning six seats in the 2022 Manipur elections. However, within a few months, five had switched their loyalty to the BJP, reducing the JD-U’s strength to one.
The BJP has 37 MLAs in the 60-member Manipur House and the party is backed by the Naga People’s Front, which has five MLAs, and three Independents.
On November 17 last year, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma-headed National People’s Party (NPP) had withdrawn its support to the Manipur government as it “completely failed” to resolve the ethnic crisis and restore normalcy. With seven MLAs, NPP is Manipur’s second largest party.