JD(U) Faces Internal Backlash Over Waqf Bill Support, Fifth Leader Quits Party

The political fallout from the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, continued to unfold on Friday as five senior leaders of the Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United) resigned, citing betrayal of secular principles. The resignations signal growing discontent within NDA allies ahead of the crucial Bihar elections.

The most recent resignation came from Tabrez Hasan, vice president of the JD(U) youth wing. In a strongly worded letter addressed to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Hasan accused the party of turning its back on Muslim voters. “You chose to stand with forces that have repeatedly worked against Muslims,” he wrote.

Hasan’s resignation followed those of four other party leaders — JD(U) Minority Cell State Secretary Mohammad Shahnawaz Malik, State General Secretary Mohammad Tabrez Siddiqui from Aligarh, Bhojpur-based member Mohammad Dilshan Rain, and former candidate Mohammad Qasim Ansari.

Hasan said he had submitted memorandums in both Urdu and Hindi urging the JD(U) to oppose the bill, but they were ignored. “This resignation is not the end of my responsibility, but a new beginning,” he declared.

Discontent Spreads to RLD in Uttar Pradesh

Similar resignations were reported in the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), another NDA partner, which also backed the controversial Waqf Bill in Parliament.

In Uttar Pradesh, Shahzaib Rizvi, RLD state general secretary, resigned from the party, accusing its chief Jayant Chaudhary of abandoning secularism. “Muslims supported Jayant Chaudhary in large numbers, but he did not stand with us when it mattered,” Rizvi said in his letter.

Further dissent came from Hapur, where Mohammad Zaki, the district general secretary, quit the party along with a group of local leaders. Zaki accused the party of remaining silent on Muslim issues and prioritising power over principles. “It has become clear that the leadership now values political ambition more than public interest,” he wrote.

Zaki also praised the 232 opposition MPs who voted against the Waqf Bill. “Even if the government had the numbers, history will remember who stood with the Constitution,” he stated.

Parliament Clears Bill Amid Protests

Despite strong opposition, the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, passed in both Houses of Parliament. The Rajya Sabha cleared it with 128 votes in favour and 95 against in a post-midnight session on Friday, following a heated debate. Earlier, the Lok Sabha approved the bill with a 288-232 margin.

While the legislative phase of the bill is complete, political analysts believe the issue will remain a major flashpoint in upcoming state elections, particularly in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, where Muslim voters hold significant sway.