BJP Allies Express Caution Over Uniform Civil Code Announcement

The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) allies—the Janata Dal (United) and the Telugu Desam Party—are adopting a cautious stance following Union Home Minister Amit Shah's declaration regarding the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). Shah announced plans to introduce the UCC in 21 states governed by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) by 2029. The BJP, having secured 240 seats in the recent Lok Sabha elections, is reliant on these allies, which hold 12 and 16 seats respectively.

In the context of significant Muslim populations in both Andhra Pradesh and Bihar, both parties have refrained from endorsing the UCC outright. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) indicated that support for the UCC remains a potential option; however, they have not committed to it. TDP Member of Parliament Lavu Krishna Devarayalu, who also serves as the party's floor leader in the Lok Sabha, stated, "Supporting it is an option, but as of now, there has been no discussion on it. If we feel the need to pursue it, we will certainly look into it and consult all relevant stakeholders before taking any decision."

Historically, prior to aligning with the NDA in 2024, the TDP opposed the introduction of the UCC. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had previously expressed solidarity with the Muslim community regarding the UCC.

In Bihar, the JD(U) is also hesitant to publicly support the proposed legislation. Rajeev Ranjan Prasad, a spokesperson for the party, noted that the working president and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Kumar Jha would hold discussions with Shah to deliberate upon the UCC. In a recent statement, Prasad mentioned, "Our party’s working president will meet home minister Amit Shah on the UCC." Additionally, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary confirmed this meeting and stated that any decision on the proposal will follow their review of the UCC provisions. Chaudhary articulated the party's need to assess how the UCC will be structured, saying, "We need to see the form in which the UCC is brought, what are its provisions."

Earlier actions have signalled caution within the JD(U). In 2017, former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar voiced concerns about the potential for social discord stemming from a UCC that does not achieve consensus from various religious communities. Additionally, the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), another NDA ally in Bihar, has similarly withheld support for the UCC. Chirag Paswan, the party's leader and Union Minister, stated their commitment to promoting equality and diversity, emphasising the need for public discussion following the release of a draft. He stated on X, "Let the draft be made public, let there be an assessment of the interests of all stakeholders, let there be extensive discussions – thereafter, after review, the party will state its position."

The BJP has faced resistance from its allies in the northeastern states regarding the UCC, and the 22nd Law Commission is currently soliciting public input despite the 21st Law Commission's earlier conclusion that a UCC is not deemed urgent. Shah’s announcement in Mumbai reinforced the urgency of the issue, targeting the enforcement of UCC in all NDA-governed states ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. During this announcement, he referenced the BJP’s past decisions, including the abolition of triple talaq and the revocation of Article 370, to underline the party's commitment to equality among citizens.

Currently, some states like Uttarakhand, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat have enacted UCC legislation, though implementation is only expected to take place in Uttarakhand in 2025.