The Democracy News : The Uniform Civil Code was a prominent issue in the Bharatiya Janata Party's election manifesto. With ongoing debates and discussions surrounding the Uniform Civil Code, there is a potential division among the ruling parties. Given that the BJP did not secure sufficient numbers to govern independently, they formed the NDA government at the center with the backing of Nitish Kumar's JDU and Chandrababu's Telugu Desam Party.
However, there is now a likelihood that allies may diverge on the BJP's agenda items. The BJP included the Uniform Civil Code in its election manifesto following nationwide deliberations. It was anticipated that this issue would surface once the NDA government assumed power at the center. Arjun Ram Meghwal, the Minister of State for Law and Justice, recently commented on this matter.
Concurrently, K. C. Tyagi, the National General Secretary of Nitish Kumar's JDU, expressed a contentious stance on the Equal Civil Rights Act. Arjun Ram Meghwal addressed the media on Tuesday, stating, "The matter of Uniform Civil Law remains on the central government's agenda. Others should adopt a wait-and-see approach."
In response to Meghwal's statement, the JD(U), a crucial ally of the Centre, presented a different perspective. K. C. Tyagi stated to the Indian Express, "Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar clarified his stance on this issue before the Law Commission in 2017. Our stance remains consistent. We are not opposed to equal civil laws, but we advocate for decisions to be made by consensus."
The JD(U) has upheld its stance on the Equal Citizenship Act since its inception, viewing the Uniform Civil Code as a means of reform rather than a political tool. Furthermore, the Telugu Desam, another key party in the NDA, believes that issues like the Uniform Civil Code should be deliberated and resolved collectively.