JD(U) seeks meeting with Amit Shah as UCC rollout plan sparks concern in NDA
The JD(U) has sought a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah to convey its concerns over the Uniform Civil Code after he announced that it would be implemented in all 21 NDA-ruled states before 2029, sources said.
The UCC seeks to establish common personal laws governing marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption, irrespective of religion.
JD(U) working president Sanjay Jha is expected to meet Shah and reiterate the party’s position that the UCC should be introduced only after extensive consultations with religious communities, state governments and other stakeholders.
The development came after JD(U) general secretary Shyam Rajak said the UCC would not be allowed to be implemented in Bihar “under any circumstances”, fuelling speculation about differences within the NDA.
Jha subsequently indicated that he would speak to the Union Home Minister.JD(U) SEEKS WIDER CONSULTATIONS
Sources said the JD(U) was not opposed to discussions on the UCC but had reservations about implementing it without wider consultations.
JD(U) leader Neeraj Kumar said the party continued to be guided by a letter that Nitish Kumar had written to the Law Commission when he was Bihar Chief Minister.
“Our party has a clear understanding of the UCC. That letter remains our guiding principle. It clearly states that no community should be hurt. The country belongs to everyone,” Kumar said.
He added that no official draft had been published, and no state had taken a decision following Shah’s announcement.
BJP sources said its allies’ reservations were not new and would be addressed through consultations.
The party is expected to cite Uttarakhand, where the UCC was introduced after consultations, as a model in discussions with its partners.
It believes consensus can be built as it was on issues such as Article 370, the Citizenship Amendment Act, triple talaq and amendments to the Waqf law.
The TDP has not responded to Shah’s latest announcement, but has previously maintained that it would decide its position only after examining a draft and holding wider discussions.
Nevertheless, its cautious stand could make it harder for the BJP to bring all its NDA partners on board.- EndsPublished By: Aprameya RaoPublished On: Sep 14, 2026 18:27 IST
