Union Home Minister Amit Shah addresses BJP state working committee meeting in Lucknow. (Img: X)
Lucknow: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday made the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Uttar Pradesh a key electoral promise, asserting that the BJP would take steps to introduce the legislation if voted back to power in the 2027 Assembly elections.
Shah's announcement signals the BJP's intention to place the UCC prominently in its campaign narrative as it prepares for another electoral contest in the politically crucial state. The promise also brings one of the party's longstanding ideological commitments into focus ahead of the polls.
During his address, Shah also referred to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and targeted the Samajwadi Party over its position on the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, seeking to draw a political distinction between the BJP's governance record and that of the Opposition.
The proposed Uniform Civil Code envisages a common set of laws governing personal matters, including marriage, divorce, inheritance and succession, irrespective of an individual's religion. The BJP has consistently advocated a uniform legal framework for such matters, arguing that it would promote equality and gender justice by removing differences arising from religion-specific personal laws.
The issue has figured prominently in the party's ideological agenda alongside the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and the removal of Article 370, which granted special constitutional status to Jammu and Kashmir.
The BJP has increasingly sought to advance the UCC agenda through legislation at the state level. Uttarakhand became the first state in independent India to implement a Uniform Civil Code in January 2025. The Uttarakhand legislation provides for a common legal framework governing marriage, divorce, succession and inheritance, while also introducing provisions relating to live-in relationships.
The BJP has subsequently advocated similar measures in other states, projecting the initiative as an effort to bring greater consistency to laws governing personal relationships and family matters.
The constitutional basis for a Uniform Civil Code is found in Article 44, which forms part of the Directive Principles of State Policy. It directs the State to endeavour to secure a uniform civil code for citizens throughout India.
Although Article 44 is not enforceable by courts, the provision has remained central to the political and constitutional debate surrounding the proposed reform. The proposed legislation, however, has generated competing arguments concerning equality, religious freedom, cultural diversity and the protection of customary practices.
Shah's announcement is likely to add another significant dimension to the BJP's preparations for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. The UCC could become a prominent campaign issue as the BJP seeks to consolidate its political support, while the Opposition is expected to question the rationale, scope and potential implications of the proposed legislation.
With Uttar Pradesh being the country's most politically significant state, the BJP's promise to introduce a Uniform Civil Code, if it returns to power, could shape the political discourse in the run-up to the Assembly elections.
