Manipur: Jairam Ramesh’s celebration short-lived as Nitish Kumar leaves opposition seething

Amid the viral letter from JDU’s Manipur Chief announcing to withdraw support from the BJP-led state government, party leader Nitish Kumar has come out strongly in support of the BJP, NDA alliance partner both at the Centre and in Bihar. This move has left the opposition coping and seething, as their short-lived celebrations over the letter have come to an abrupt end. As per the latest Manipur political developments, JDU has taken disciplinary action against its state Chief for going against the alliance partner.

The recent storm in the tea cup started when Janata Dal-United’s (JDU) lone MLA in the state, Md. Abdul Nasir announced state units decision to withdraw its support from the BJP-led government in Manipur. However, as his letter started doing rounds on social media, JDU national spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad termed it “misleading and baseless.” JDU has also taken cognizance of this matter and sacked the Manipur Unit chief from his position for the stunt.

JDU national spokesperson Prasad clarified that the party’s central leadership had not authorized the move and that the president of the Manipur unit, who had issued the withdrawal letter as he acted unilaterally.

In a statement, Prasad said, “This is misleading and baseless. The party has taken cognisance of this and the president of Manipur unit of the party has been relieved of his position. We have supported NDA and our support to the NDA government in Manipur will continue even in future. Manipur unit did not have any communication with the central leadership, they were not taken into confidence. He (Manipur JDU chief) had written the letter on his own. Considering this an act of indiscipline, action has been taken against him and relieved of his position. We are with the NDA and the state unit will continue to serve people of Manipur towards the development of the state.”

Earlier in the day, Ksh Biren Singh, the chief of JDU’s Manipur unit, informed Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla of the decision to withdraw support from the N Biren Singh government. In a letter, he had written, “In the election to State Assembly of Manipur held in February/March 2022, six candidates set up by JDU were returned. After a few months, five MLAs of Janata Dal-United defected to BJP. Trial under Tenth Schedule of Constitution of India of the five MLAs is pending before the Speaker’s Tribunal.”

The letter also mentioned that JDU had joined the I.N.D.I. alliance after the withdrawal of support from the BJP-led government in Manipur.

Following his decision, the Congress party started projecting it as a moral victory, however, their celebrations proved short-lived. 

Pertinently, Nitish Kumar’s JDU has played a crucial role in helping the BJP maintain its majority at the Centre. In Bihar, the BJP and JDU political alliance has also kept Nitish Kumar in power. Nitish Kumar’s past political manoeuvres have always kept his trustworthiness under question. However, the quick clarification from the party about its stance put an end to the airing speculations about Nitish Kumar.

Nonetheless, in the 2022 Manipur Assembly elections, JDU contested and won six seats. However, shortly after the elections, five of its MLAs defected and joined the BJP. This boosted the ruling party’s numbers. The BJP currently enjoys a comfortable majority in the 60-member Manipur Assembly, with 37 legislators. It is further supported by five MLAs from the Naga People’s Front and three Independents.