The Janata Dal (United), led by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, has officially withdrawn its support from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government in Manipur, headed by Chief Minister N Biren Singh. The party announced that its sole MLA in the state, Md Abdul Nasir, would now sit with the Opposition in the Assembly, signaling a strategic shift in JD(U)’s political approach in the region.
The move was officially announced through a letter addressed to Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla by the JD(U)’s state president, Kshetrimayum Biren Singh. The letter signified the party’s decision to sever ties and its realignment with the Opposition.
While this decision is not expected to affect the stability of the BJP government, which holds a comfortable majority in the 60-member Assembly, it holds political significance. The BJP currently has 37 legislators, backed by five MLAs from the Naga People’s Front and three Independents, ensuring its dominance in the state legislature.
In the 2022 Manipur Assembly elections, the JD(U) had secured six seats. However, five of its MLAs later defected to the BJP, leaving Md Abdul Nasir as the party’s lone representative. The defection consolidated BJP’s numbers, but JD(U)’s withdrawal of support marks a symbolic opposition to the ruling dispensation.
The JD(U) stated in its letter that this move aligns with the party’s association with the INDIA bloc at the national level. It also clarified that Md Abdul Nasir had already joined the Opposition benches in the most recent Assembly session.
This is not the first instance of an ally breaking ties with the BJP in Manipur. Last year, the Conrad Sangma-led National People’s Party (NPP) withdrew its support from the state government in a similar development.
Nitish Kumar, known for his political maneuvering, recently returned to the NDA after a brief stint with the Opposition INDIA bloc. At the central level, JD(U)’s support remains critical for the BJP, particularly after its pivotal role in helping the party secure a majority in the 2024 general elections.
