Waqf Bill Support Triggers Rift Within JDU, 5 Leaders Resign
The Janata Dal (United), led by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, is facing internal turmoil after five senior leaders resigned in protest against the party’s support for the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. The resignations highlight growing discontent within the party as the controversial legislation sparks political debate ahead of the Bihar assembly elections.
The latest leader to step down was Tabrez Hasan, vice president of the JDU’s youth wing. Prior to him, Mohammad Shahnawaz Malik, state secretary of the JDU Minority Cell, state general secretary Mohammad Tabrez Siddiqui from Aligarh, Bhojpur-based member Mohammad Dilshan Rain, and former candidate Mohammad Qasim Ansari also announced their resignations.
Tabrez Hasan formally submitted his resignation to JDU chief Nitish Kumar on Friday, expressing disappointment over the party’s stance. In his letter, he accused the leadership of betraying the trust of the Muslim community.
“I had hoped you would maintain your secular image, but you chose to stand with forces that have repeatedly worked against Muslims,” Hasan wrote, referring to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). He further stated that the Waqf Bill, along with previous legislations such as the abrogation of Article 370, the triple talaq law, and the Citizenship Amendment Act, had adversely impacted the Muslim community.
Hasan also revealed that he had submitted memorandums in Urdu and Hindi, urging JDU leaders to oppose the bill, but his pleas were ignored. “This resignation is not an end, but a new beginning,” he said, indicating his continued political activism.
The fallout from the bill’s passage is not limited to Bihar. In Uttar Pradesh, the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), another NDA ally, saw resignations from key Muslim leaders over the party’s decision to back the bill in Parliament.
Shahzaib Rizvi, state general secretary of RLD, resigned on Friday, accusing party chief Jayant Chaudhary of abandoning secular principles. “Muslims supported Jayant Chaudhary in large numbers, but he did not stand with us when it mattered,” Rizvi said in his resignation letter.
Similarly, Mohammad Zaki, district general secretary of RLD in Hapur, resigned along with other local leaders. In his resignation letter, Zaki criticized the party for prioritizing power over principles. “The party leadership has chosen political ambition over the public’s interest,” he wrote, thanking the 232 opposition MPs who voted against the bill.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, was passed in Parliament on Friday after intense debate. It secured 128 votes in favor and 95 against in the Rajya Sabha, following a narrow contest in the Lok Sabha, where 288 MPs supported it while 232 opposed.
Despite securing parliamentary approval, the bill has sparked political unrest, particularly in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, where opposition parties are expected to leverage the controversy in upcoming elections. With Bihar’s assembly elections approaching, the JDU’s decision to back the bill could have far-reaching consequences, both within the party and in its alliance with the NDA.
