NEW DELHI: The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) has emerged as a flashpoint in West Bengal Assembly elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the one hand, has vowed to implement it if the BJP comes to power. At the same time, Bengal’s chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, has pledged to repeal the law if her party gains a majority at the Centre.Addressing a rally in Jangipur in Murshidabad district, PM Modi said the BJP’s manifesto, released a day earlier, outlines a roadmap to introduce the UCC as part of a broader push to end what he described as “appeasement politics” in the state. The Prime Minister positioned the proposal as integral to governance and national security, while also linking it to the BJP’s wider electoral pitch in Bengal.
At the rally, PM Modi said, “The nation’s security is of paramount importance to us. The BJP resolves to implement UCC in West Bengal to end the politics of appeasement forever.”His remarks come after the BJP’s ‘Sankalp Patra’ promised implementation of the UCC within six months of forming the government, alongside a series of governance and security reforms. The party has framed the election as a decisive moment for Bengal’s political direction, alleging corruption, lawlessness and demographic shifts under the Trinamool Congress (TMC).In response to the ‘Sankalp Patra’, the Bengal CM opposed the implementation of the civil code bill. Banerjee, addressing a gathering in Keshiary in Paschim Medinipur district, accused the BJP of pushing the proposal without consensus and warned that it would be reversed if political equations change at the Centre.Speaking at the rally, she said, “They have spoken about UCC (Uniform Civil Code) in the manifesto. I will vehemently oppose this. They are in the majority today, so they will pass the Bill. When they won’t be in the majority tomorrow, we will revoke the Bill. Free and fair elections are not possible as long as they remain.”Banerjee also raised concerns over electoral processes and policy timing, alleging that key decisions were being pushed without debate during an ongoing election cycle.She said, “Elections are going on, and in the middle of that, they are bringing the Delimitation Bill in Parliament. This was not even debated. The reason behind this is that they want to divide Bengal and conduct NRC here. I reiterate this, the BJP will be gone one day very soon.”Expanding her attack, Banerjee criticised the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging manipulation and deletion of voter names.She said, “Our fight is with ‘Vanish Kumar’ (referring to CEC Gyanesh Kumar). SIR is a huge scam. This is not SIR but an attempt to bring the BJP to power. This is a scam to delete names. 90 lakh names have been deleted.”She further alleged attempts to target her politically, stating, “Two false affidavits were filed to cancel my candidature from Bhabanipur. They could not do it, but imagine if they could do this against me, what all they can do against others.”
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Should the implementation of UCC involve wider public consensus?
The BJP, for its part, has doubled down on its campaign narrative, with the PM accusing the TMC of relying on “infiltrators”, fostering corruption and failing to maintain law and order. He also alleged that violence during Ram Navami processions in the state contrasted with peaceful celebrations elsewhere in the country.The assembly elections for West Bengal are scheduled for April 23 and 29, while the counting is on May 4.
