The Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) on Friday, 10 July called on the ruling Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra to bring the opposition into consultations on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and to publicly release the draft framework, a day after the state government formed a high-level committee to steer the UCC's implementation.

What the Opposition Said

Congress leader Husain Dalwai stated he has no fundamental objection to the UCC. 'I have been saying from the beginning that keeping more than one wife is completely wrong. It is an injustice to women. No religion has said that it is right to be unjust to women. Give women full respect, give them equal rights in property as well,' he said. He nonetheless urged the state government to publish the draft 'so that people can give their opinions on it.'

Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Anand Dubey echoed that position a day earlier, saying: 'No one is opposing the UCC; it should be implemented. There should be a uniform law applicable to individuals of all religions in this country, whether it concerns divorce or dowry, these matters should be covered by the UCC.' Dubey, however, pressed for transparency: 'Will we get to see the draft of the UCC? Will the draft be discussed? Will the opposition parties be taken into confidence, or will dictatorship prevail?'

Congress MP Raises Unity Concerns

Congress MP Jebi Mather took a sharper line, accusing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led governments of undermining the country's pluralism. 'Wherever there is a double-engine government, they are either engaged in changing the names of roads or buildings, or they are pushing for the implementation of the UCC. This is their fixed agenda. They do not want the unity in diversity of our country,' she said. Mather argued that the Constitution already guarantees that religious practices can continue within the legal framework, and warned of what she called a 'dictatorial tendency.'

BJP Defends the Move, Hits Back at Congress

The BJP backed the Maharashtra government's decision and turned the criticism around on the opposition. BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said: 'The same Congress party which had advocated for the UCC in the Constituent Assembly, is today opposing its implementation by prioritising their vote bank over women.' He labelled the party an 'anti-women ecosystem.'

JD-U Calls for Inclusive Approach

Janata Dal (United) chief spokesperson Neeraj Kumar urged that all sections of society be consulted, saying 'social harmony is the foundation of development.' While affirming that the state government has the authority to take its own decisions, Kumar stressed: 'No section of society should feel hurt. Social harmony must be maintained.'

This comes amid a broader national debate over the UCC, with Uttarakhand having already enacted its own UCC legislation in 2024 — the first state to do so. Maharashtra's move signals the issue is gaining renewed momentum ahead of future electoral cycles. How the Mahayuti government handles opposition demands for transparency could shape both the political optics and the legislative timeline of the draft.