Five of seven MLAs from Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United) in Manipur have joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, according to a statement from the state assembly, accessed by a leading news channel.

According to the statement signed by Manipur Assembly secretary K Meghajit Singh, the Speaker is pleased to accept the merger.

The legislators who defected are Kh Joykishan, N Sanate, Md Achab Uddin, former DGP L M Khaute and Thangjam Arunkumar.