Nitish Kumar's JD(U) withdraws support to BJP-led Biren Singh govt in Manipur

The Janata Dal (United) state unit in Manipur on Wednesday withdrew support to the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Biren Singh government in the state. The lone JD(U) MLA in the state, Md Abdul Nasir, will sit in the opposition benches, the party said.

The withdrawal, however, will not have any impact on the Biren Singh government as the BJP has 37 seats in the 60-member assembly and is also supported by five MLAs of Naga People's Front and three independents.

In a letter to Manipur governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, state JD(U) chief Ksh Biren Singh said, "IN the election to state assembly of Manipur held in February/ March 2022, six candidates set up by JD (U) were returned. After a few months, five MLAs of JD (U) defected to BJP. Trial under Tenth Schedule of India of the five MLAs is pending before the Speaker's Tribunal."