UP Allies Yet to Back UCC

Lucknow, September 16: BJP-led NDA allies in Uttar Pradesh have so far remained cautious about publicly stating their position on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), days after Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the law would be implemented in all 21 BJP and NDA-ruled states before 2029.

Shah made the statement on September 13, saying he was confident that the UCC would be implemented across all NDA-ruled states before the next Lok Sabha elections.

The issue has gained fresh attention in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. The BJP has consistently included the UCC among its major policy and ideological priorities.

However, its alliance partners in Uttar Pradesh have not yet formally endorsed the proposal. Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) national general secretary Anil Dubey said he would not comment immediately and would first consult the party leadership.

Apna Dal (Soneylal), another NDA partner with a significant support base among Kurmis and non-Yadav OBC communities in eastern Uttar Pradesh, has also not announced its position. Party state chief RP Gautam said the matter would be addressed by the party high command.

The Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP), led by Om Prakash Rajbhar, has likewise not made its position clear.

While the allies have not publicly opposed Shah’s statement, their cautious responses indicate that the issue remains under discussion within the alliance. Similar differences over the UCC have also emerged among NDA partners in other states.

The implementation process is already at different stages across states. Uttarakhand became the first state to fully implement a state-specific UCC, which came into effect in January 2025. Assam, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh have passed UCC bills that are awaiting presidential assent and notification. Rajasthan has introduced a UCC Bill, while Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh have constituted committees to prepare drafts. West Bengal has also announced plans to introduce a UCC law.

In Uttar Pradesh, the BJP government has previously indicated support for bringing a UCC if it returns to power after the 2027 Assembly election.

Opposition parties have criticised the proposal. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has questioned the BJP’s priorities and linked the UCC debate to other promises made by the party.

The Uniform Civil Code proposes a common set of personal laws governing matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption across religious communities. Its precise provisions and implementation, however, would depend on the legislation enacted by individual states.

For now, the position of BJP’s Uttar Pradesh allies remains undecided publicly, while the UCC continues to be a significant subject of political and policy discussion in the state.