Rajak cited Nitish Kumar’s longstanding position, saying the JDU had supported the UCC in principle but would not allow its implementation in Bihar.
BY PC Bureau
Patna/New Delhi, September 14, 2026: A day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah said he expected the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) to be implemented in all 21 BJP- and NDA-ruled states before the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, Janata Dal (United) leader Shyam Rajak on Monday reiterated that the party would oppose its implementation in Bihar.
Speaking in Patna, Rajak said the party continued to stand by the position taken by JDU leader Nitish Kumar.
“When this bill came to Parliament, our leader (Nitish Kumar) had clearly said that he supports the bill but will not allow it to be implemented in his state. We stand by that,” Rajak said.
Rajak also pointed to Bihar’s coalition government, saying that although the state now has a BJP chief minister, the government is an NDA coalition comprising the JDU, LJP (Ram Vilas) and Rashtriya Lok Morcha.
“Here there is no independent government. The question of implementing it does not arise in any circumstance,” he said.
Shah made the UCC announcement on Sunday in Mumbai while outlining the NDA government’s achievements and launching a 30-day Seva Sankalp Abhiyan.
“We have introduced the Uniform Civil Code in several states. I am confident that we will implement the UCC in all 21 states governed by the BJP-led NDA before 2029,” Shah said.
He also reiterated the government’s position on identifying and deporting illegal immigrants.
The UCC seeks to establish a common framework of personal laws governing issues such as marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption, replacing religion-specific provisions in these areas.
Uttarakhand became the first state to implement a Uniform Civil Code, which came into force in January 2025. Several other BJP-ruled states have also moved towards introducing similar legislation or begun the process of preparing UCC provisions.
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#WATCH | Patna, Bihar: On the Uniform Civil Code, JDU leader Shyam Rajak says, “When this bill came to Parliament, our leader (Nitish Kumar) had clearly said that he supports the bill but will not allow it to be implemented in his state. We stand by that.” pic.twitter.com/cQKunzomAc
— ANI (@ANI) September 14, 2026
Nitish’s longstanding position
Bihar’s position has become particularly significant because the state government is led by BJP Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, while the JDU remains a key NDA ally.
Nitish Kumar stepped down as chief minister in April 2026 after nearly two decades in office. He is now JDU national president and a Rajya Sabha member.
The JDU has historically maintained that any move towards a Uniform Civil Code should be based on wider consultation and consensus rather than unilateral implementation.
Nitish had conveyed the party’s reservations to the Law Commission in 2017 and reiterated his position publicly in 2023.
Rajak’s statement therefore puts the JDU’s position on the UCC on record even as the BJP-led NDA has set an ambitious nationwide target ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
Congress attacks Shah’s timeline
Congress leaders criticised Shah’s announcement, accusing the BJP of using the UCC as a political issue.
Congress MP Imran Masood said people would continue to follow their traditions and accused the government of diverting attention from issues such as inflation and unemployment.
Congress leader Rashid Alvi also criticised the proposed timeline, alleging that the BJP’s political priorities were focused on Muslims rather than economic concerns.
The JDU’s latest statement underlines a potential fault line within the NDA. While the BJP has made the UCC a major political and legislative priority, its regional allies have their own positions on the issue.
Whether the UCC can be implemented in Bihar before the 2029 elections could therefore become a significant test of the BJP-JDU relationship.
