Archive · 18 Sep 2026
JD(U) Balances Nitish Kumar Legacy, Nishant Role and UCC
The Janata Dal (United), or JD(U), is holding a meeting for its lawmakers on Friday.
Senior leaders, including Nitish Kumar and Nishant Kumar, are expected to speak.
The meeting may celebrate Nitish Kumar’s work and give Nishant Kumar a bigger role.
The party also faces a difficult question about the Uniform Civil Code.
JD(U) has said it is not against the idea completely.
However, it wants people to discuss the plan and agree on it first.
Some party leaders say the law should not be introduced only in Bihar.
Other leaders are waiting to study the proposed law before taking a firm position.
The Janata Dal (United) will hold a one-day lawmakers’ orientation programme on Friday.
The event is expected to reinforce Nitish Kumar’s governance legacy and elevate his son, Health Minister Nishant Kumar.
The party supports a Uniform Civil Code in principle but has called for broad consultation and consensus.
JD(U) leaders differ over whether the UCC should be implemented in Bihar, with some opposing state-level implementation.
The party’s leaders have responded cautiously to Amit Shah’s announcement that NDA-ruled states will introduce the UCC before 2029.
- Who
- The Janata Dal (United), its lawmakers and senior leaders including Nitish Kumar, Nishant Kumar, Sanjay Kumar Jha and Vijay Kumar Choudhary.
- What
- The party is holding an orientation programme while managing its position on the Uniform Civil Code and highlighting its leadership transition.
- When
- The orientation programme is scheduled for Friday, two days after Amit Shah’s UCC announcement.
- Where
- The political issue centers on Bihar and the wider NDA-ruled states in India; the programme’s venue is not specified.
- Why
- The party aims to educate lawmakers, reinforce Nitish Kumar’s legacy, build momentum around Nishant Kumar and clarify a cautious UCC position without harming alliance relations.
Conditional or Bihar-Specific Approach
National UCC Implementation
Support for the UCC
Conditional or Bihar-Specific Approach
JD(U) has previously said it is not opposed to a Uniform Civil Code in principle, but wants broad consultation and mutual consensus.
National UCC Implementation
The NDA’s announced policy is to implement the Uniform Civil Code across all BJP- and NDA-ruled states before the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
Implementation in Bihar
Conditional or Bihar-Specific Approach
Some JD(U) leaders, including Nalanda MP Kaushlendra Kumar, say the UCC should not be implemented in Bihar, where Muslims comprise 17.7% of the population.
National UCC Implementation
The announcement covers all 21 BJP- and NDA-ruled states, which would include states governed by the alliance rather than limiting implementation to selected regions.
Immediate response
Conditional or Bihar-Specific Approach
Vijay Kumar Choudhary said there was no reason to rush, while party leaders want to examine the actual legislation and consult on it.
National UCC Implementation
Amit Shah’s announcement sets a broad implementation objective before 2029, creating pressure on alliance partners to respond.
- Programme
- A day-long orientation programme for JD(U) lawmakers is scheduled for Friday.
- UCC announcement
- Amit Shah said the UCC would be introduced in all 21 BJP- and NDA-ruled states before the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
- JD(U) position
- The party has said it is not opposed to a UCC in principle but wants wide consultation and mutual consensus.
- Bihar Muslim population
- The state caste survey puts Bihar’s Muslim population at 17.7%, or approximately 2.31 crore of 13.07 crore residents.
- Recent responses
- Sanjay Kumar Jha said JD(U) leaders would meet Amit Shah, while Vijay Kumar Choudhary said the party would first study the legislation.
- Dissenting statement
- Nalanda MP Kaushlendra Kumar said the UCC would not be implemented in Bihar.