Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary said on Tuesday that the Janata Dal (United) will review the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill and will not oppose it without justification if the provisions are acceptable. Chaudhary made the remarks at a press conference held at the party office, addressing questions about the political fallout following Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s claim that the UCC would be implemented across 22 NDA‑ruled states by 2029.
Chaudhary, a former state assembly speaker and former JD(U) president, sought to distance his party from the hardline position adopted by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), which has pledged to block the UCC’s implementation in Bihar on the grounds that it would harm Muslim interests. He emphasized that the JD(U), as part of the ruling NDA in Bihar, would consult all coalition partners before deciding on the bill.
Earlier this week, senior JD(U) MLA Shyam Rajak criticized the UCC, echoing former party leader Nitish Kumar’s earlier statement that the party would support the bill in Parliament but oppose its implementation in Bihar. Chaudhary countered that there is no reason to rush the matter and noted that the party’s national working president, Sanjay Kumar Jha, intends to discuss the issue with the Union Home Minister.
Chaudhary also addressed the ongoing floods that have affected nearly 50 lakh people in the state. He said the state government is doing its best and that the central government has shown sensitivity. He added that Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is scheduled to visit Bihar tomorrow, during which he will inspect flood‑hit areas to assess damage and determine central assistance.
