Key allies of TDP, Shiv Sena supported Amit Shah’s statement on UCC in all NDA-ruled states

After Home Minister Amit Shah declared that the Uniform Civil Code will be implemented in all NDA-ruled states by 2029, key NDA partners TDP and Shiv Sena on Tuesday (September 15, 2026) backed the BJP on the issue.

Another BJP ally JD(U) gave a guarded response, saying it would study the Uniform Civil Code Act and “will not oppose it unnecessarily”.

The support of TDP with 16 Lok Sabha MPs, Shiv Sena with 13 and JD(U) with 12 is crucial for the Narendra Modi government. While TDP is in power in Andhra Pradesh along with Jana Sena and BJP, BJP shares power with JD(U) in Bihar and Shiv Sena in Maharashtra.

Andhra Pradesh TDP President P Srinivasa Rao said in Amaravati that he was bound by the Union Home Minister’s statement on UCC as a partner of the NDA.

“Yes, I have seen our Union Home Minister’s statement on UCC and as partners of the NDA we are bound to go by his statement,” said Mr. Rao, who represents the Gajuwaka constituency.

Although there is criticism about the UCC, he noted that it “strengthens the unity of the country and does not show too much gender bias”.

“And critics, of course, some say that (UCC) violates religious freedom. Our country is culturally diverse. But we always think that this UCC will strengthen and unite the country,” he said.

“So we will go by our home minister’s statement that they are partners with the NDA,” he added.

However, CPI(M) State Secretary V. Srinivas Rao claimed that the BJP was resorting to UCC politics to divert the country’s attention as it “faces heat from the new generation (Gen Z) due to unemployment” and other reasons, especially in the backdrop of the recent Jantar Mantar student protest movement.

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary also said that the JD(U) will study the Uniform Civil Code Act and “will not object to it unreasonably” if the provisions are non-exceptional.

The former JD(U) state president made the announcement at a press conference at the party office. He was responding to questions on the political turmoil that followed Shah’s claim that the UCC would be implemented “in 22 NDA-ruled states by 2029”.

On Monday (September 14, 2026), senior JD(U) leader and Phulwari Sharif MLA Shyam Rajak came out strongly against the UCC, claiming that he was expressing a view in line with the earlier-taken stand of party supremo Nitish Kumar, who told the Narendra Modi government to implement it at the Center “but we will oppose the bill in Parliament”.

Mr Chaudhary, however, argued that there was “no need to rush the matter” and pointed out that “our national working president Sanjay Kumar Jha has said that he will take up the matter with none other than the Union Home Minister”.

“We are not aware of the details of the UCC legislation at the moment. Let it be brought before us. If we find there is nothing objectionable, why would we oppose it without any reason? And if there are points of concern, they will be taken up with the Union Home Secretary,” he said.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena President Eknath Shinde supported Shah on the UCC issue, saying Sena founder the late Bal Thackeray envisioned universal law for all.

“Hinduhridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray’s vision was ‘one country, one law’ with equal justice for all. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also stated the same stance on UCC,” Shinde said.

He added that the Mahayuti government in Maharashtra remains positive about the Uniform Civil Code and will take a final decision at the appropriate time.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Monday (September 14, 2026) that the state government will implement the UCC once the committee preparing the bill submits its report.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the BJP should introduce the UCC bill in Parliament if it has the numbers to pass it, instead of pushing it state by state, and said the BJP’s allies also have reservations.

“If you have the numbers, bring them to Parliament. Why are you doing it across different states? Anyway, within their own NDA, not everyone agrees. According to reports, Janata Dal (United) has raised its hands and said it will not be implemented in Bihar,” Mr Abdullah told reporters here.

The National Conference leader said the BJP should not bring in the UCC through the “back door”. “Given that their own allies are not in favor of it, I don’t think they will be able to get it through parliament. Maybe that’s why they’re going this way,” he added.

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi said in Bhopal that if NDA constituent parties like JD(U) and TDP have “the slightest disagreement” with BJP’s ideology, they should oppose the Uniform Civil Code.

The UCC was being implemented in various states to “target” India’s 18 million Muslims and the real objective of the BJP and RSS was to “abolish” the protections guaranteed (to religious minorities) under Articles 25, 26 and 29 of the Constitution, he alleged.

Owaisi said it would be a different matter if the NDA’s allies completely aligned themselves with the BJP’s ideology. “But if they still have the slightest difference with the BJP, they should oppose it (UCC),” he said.

Published – 16 Sep 2026 04:10 IST