‘Misleading, baseless’: JD(U) leader denies party withdrawing support to BJP-led Manipur govt

NEW DELHI: Janata Dal (United) national spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad has dismissed recent reports claiming that the party is withdrawing its support from the BJP-led government in Manipur, calling them “misleading and baseless”.

Prasad clarified that the president of the Manipur unit had acted independently without consulting the central leadership, which led to disciplinary action and his removal from the position.

“This is misleading and baseless. The party has taken cognisance of this and the president of the 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,” the JD(U) leader said.

“We are with the NDA and the state unit will continue to serve the people of Manipur towards development of the state”, he added.

#WATCH | Delhi: JD(U) national spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad says, “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… https://t.co/PhAJwAp4xn pic.twitter.com/usvowgta3n

— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2025

Earlier today, in the statement from JD(U)’s Manipur chief, Ksh. Biren Singh, the party said that the lone MLA of the party in Manipur will be treated as an Opposition MLA in the assembly.

“In the election to the State Assembly of Manipur held in February/March 2022, six candidates set up by Janata Dal(United) were returned. After a few months, five MLAs of Janata Dal United) defected to BJP. Trial under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution of India of the five MLAs is pending before the Speaker’s Tribunal. After Janata Dal(United) became a part of the INDIA bloc, support to the BJP-led government was withdrawn by Janata Dal(United) by informing the office of the Governor, Leader of the House (Chief Minister) and Speaker”, the letter said.

“As such, the 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 the 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 party said. (ANI)