West Bengal BJP Government to Table Uniform Civil Code as First Bill: Sources

The newly elected Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in West Bengal is expected to introduce the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) as its first bill, possibly on Monday, according to party sources. If passed, Bengal will become the fourth BJP-ruled state after Uttarakhand, Gujarat, and Assam to adopt the UCC, which seeks to replace religion-based personal laws on marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption, and succession with a common set of rules applicable to all citizens.

The matter was discussed at a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee on Thursday, sources said. The BJP holds 207 seats in the 294-member state assembly, giving it a clear majority to pass the bill. The previous government led by the Trinamool Congress had opposed the UCC, with former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee vowing not to impose it in the state.

The UCC was a key promise in the BJP's election manifesto for Bengal. During the campaign, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had pledged that the code would be introduced within six months of the party coming to power. The BJP won the state election by an overwhelming majority, securing its first government in West Bengal.

Proponents of the UCC argue that it will ensure gender justice and national integration by treating all citizens equally under civil laws. Critics, however, contend that it could infringe upon the religious freedom of minority communities and disrupt existing personal law practices. The bill is expected to spark intense debate in the assembly and among civil society groups.