IMPHAL: BJP ally Nitish Kumar's JD(U)'s move shocks BJP in Manipur. Kshetrimayum Biren Singh, the state chief of JDU has announced that the party withdrawing its support to the BJP government led by N Biren Singh. JDU has only one member in the Manipur Legislative Assembly. Withdrawal of support will not create a crisis for the government.

JDU national spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad clarified that the move of the state unit was not with the knowledge of the national leadership. He also said that JDU will continue in the NDA alliance. Rajeev Ranjan Prasad said that the move of the state chief was unilateral and he was expelled from the party.

The National People's Party, headed by Conrad Sangma, had earlier withdrawn its support to the Manipur government. JDU had won six seats in Manipur in the 2022 assembly elections. However, months later, five MLAs joined the BJP. BJP has 37 members in the 60-member assembly. Five MLAs of the Naga People's Party and three independents are supporting the government. Currently, JDU has 12 MPs in the Lok Sabha.