Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) President and Union Minister Chirag Paswan on Monday, 14 September called for broader consultations before any final decision is taken on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), a day after Home Minister Amit Shah announced that the UCC would be implemented across all BJP-ruled states before 2029. Paswan's remarks signal a rare public divergence within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on one of the ruling coalition's most contested policy proposals.

What Paswan Said

In a post on his official X handle, Paswan stressed that India's social fabric is diverse, with different communities maintaining their own customs, traditions, and practices. He pointed to constitutional provisions — including the Fifth and Sixth Schedules and Articles 371A and 371G — as well as statutory exemptions for Scheduled Tribes as evidence that the Constitution itself recognises this diversity.

'Our party, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), is committed to both equality and diversity,' Paswan said. He demanded that the draft UCC be made public first, its implications for all stakeholders assessed, and extensive discussions held before his party takes a final position. 'Let the draft be made public, let there be an assessment of the interests of all stakeholders, let there be extensive discussions — thereafter, after review, the party will state its position,' he said.

Amit Shah's Announcement and NDA Fault Lines

The backdrop to Paswan's remarks is Home Minister Amit Shah's statement the previous day that the UCC would be rolled out in the 21 states currently governed by the BJP-led NDA before 2029. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has strongly backed Shah's position. However, Paswan's call for a deliberative process — rather than a straight endorsement — reflects a cautious approach from at least one key NDA partner. This is notable given that the LJP-Ram Vilas holds ministerial representation at the Centre.

This comes amid a broader pattern of NDA alliance partners expressing measured reservations on socially sensitive legislation, even while maintaining coalition discipline on other issues.

Jharkhand's Cautious Stance

Separately, Jharkhand Minister Sanjay Prasad Yadav also adopted a guarded posture when questioned on the UCC at Patna airport. 'Union Home Minister Amit Shah has also spoken about this, and the Jharkhand government is keeping a close watch on all aspects of the matter. In politics, there should be no need to rush to conclusions. We will carefully examine every aspect before taking any further decision,' Yadav told reporters.

Why This Matters

The UCC has long been a defining item on the BJP's ideological agenda, aimed at replacing personal laws governing marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption — which currently differ across religious communities — with a single unified framework. Proponents argue it would ensure equal rights regardless of religion; critics, including tribal communities and several minority groups, contend it would erase constitutionally protected cultural identities.

Notably, the issue of tribal exemptions — which Paswan specifically flagged — has been a flashpoint in states with large Scheduled Tribe populations, including Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and parts of the Northeast. The fact that two voices linked to these constituencies have chosen public caution rather than outright support suggests the NDA's internal consensus on the UCC remains a work in progress.

What Happens Next

No draft UCC legislation has been made public at the national level as of this report. The government has not yet outlined a formal consultation mechanism or a legislative timeline for the states Shah referred to. With the 2029 general elections as the stated deadline, the pace and sequencing of any state-level UCC rollout will likely be shaped as much by coalition arithmetic as by legislative readiness.