To address growing speculation about its political alignments, the Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)] has removed its Manipur unit president, Ksh Biren Singh, citing indiscipline. The announcement was made on Wednesday by the party’s national spokesperson, Rajiv Ranjan. Ranjan clarified that the decision to sack Ksh Biren Singh was unrelated to any change in the party’s support for the BJP-led government in Manipur. He reaffirmed the JD(U)’s commitment to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) both in the northeastern state and across the country. “Our party has consistently worked to strengthen the NDA and will continue to do so,” Ranjan stated, dismissing claims of political discord. The development comes amid conflicting statements from Ksh Biren Singh, who recently claimed that the JD(U) had withdrawn its support for the BJP-led government in Manipur. He further asserted that the party had informed Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla of its decision.
Ksh Biren Singh also stated that the lone JD(U) MLA in Manipur, Md Abdul Nasir, had been moved to the opposition benches during the last session of the state assembly. In a letter addressed to Governor Bhalla, Ksh Biren Singh wrote, “After JD(U) became part of the INDIA bloc, support to the BJP-led government was withdrawn. As such, the seating arrangement of MLA Md Abdul Nasir was shifted to the opposition bench by the Speaker.” Rajiv Ranjan’s remarks, however, underscored the party’s official stance of unwavering support for the BJP-led government. The move to dismiss Ksh Biren Singh is seen as an attempt to maintain discipline within the party ranks and prevent further confusion regarding its political strategy.
The JD(U)’s actions reflect a broader effort to consolidate its position within the NDA framework while addressing internal challenges. The party’s leadership remains committed to aligning with the BJP to ensure stability and development in Manipur and beyond.
