Amit Shah promises Uniform Civil Code in UP if BJP returns to power

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday promised to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Uttar Pradesh if the BJP returns to power in the 2027 Assembly elections.

Addressing the Uttar Pradesh BJP state executive committee meeting, Shah said the party would introduce the UCC in the state after forming the government.

“This time, when the government comes to power, UCC will be implemented in Uttar Pradesh. UCC has already been implemented in many states. If you form the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh, we will implement UCC in Uttar Pradesh,” Shah told party leaders at the meeting.

The daylong meeting was convened to chalk out the party's roadmap ahead of next year's Assembly elections. The entire Uttar Pradesh Cabinet, state BJP office-bearers and representatives of regional and district units attended the meeting, with Shah as the chief guest.

Earlier, Uttar Pradesh BJP president Pankaj Chaudhary described the upcoming electoral contest as a battle between “vinash aur vikas” (destruction and development) and “jatiwad aur rashtrawad” (casteism and nationalism).

In his address, Chaudhary urged party workers not to remain defensive while responding to the Opposition and asked them to counter its allegations with facts.

He also criticised the Congress and Samajwadi Party, alleging that their politics relied on negative allegations rather than discussions on policies and public interest.

Ahead of the elections, Chaudhary asked party leaders to assess their organisational preparedness, including the functioning of booth committees and the engagement of office-bearers with people.

He also called on BJP workers to reach out to all sections of society, including upper castes, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, backward communities, farmers, youth and women.

The UCC seeks to establish a common set of personal laws governing matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance and succession, irrespective of religious affiliation. Uttarakhand became the first state to implement its UCC in January 2025. Several other BJP-ruled states have also taken steps towards introducing similar legislation.