Tejashwi Yadav Predicts JDU-BJP Merger, Reasserts Opposition to UCC in Bihar

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Working National President and Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav has claimed that Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) will soon merge into the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Dismissing the regional outfit as little more than a “B-team” for the saffron party, Yadav stated that JDU’s independent political identity has eroded and alleged that JDU Working President Sanjay Jha would oversee the formal merger.

Yadav also reiterated the RJD’s firm opposition to the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), asserting that the party will not allow the code to be enforced in Bihar under any circumstances.

His remarks follow an overture by RJD MLA Bhai Virendra, who twice urged the JDU to exit the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and realign with the Mahagathbandhan to establish a state government—proposals that JDU leadership dismissed. Yadav remarked that his earlier forecasts regarding Nitish Kumar’s declining political grip had come to pass, accusing the NDA of leveraging Kumar’s face during elections only to marginalize him afterward.

Background on the UCC Debate in Bihar

• Catalyst: The political sparring escalated after Union Home Minister Amit Shah declared in Mumbai that the UCC would be introduced across 21 NDA-governed states by 2029.
• JDU’s Internal Discord: Reactions within JDU remain fractured; MLA Shyam Rajak stated the policy would not be accepted in Bihar, Minister Shravan Kumar took an ambiguous stance, and party spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan indicated Sanjay Jha would consult Amit Shah before formalizing the party’s position.
• Alliance Dynamics: While Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) has backed the UCC proposal, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan and Rashtriya Lok Morcha leader Upendra Kushwaha stated they will deliberate on the formal draft before finalizing their stance.