As Assam passes Polygamy Bill, CM Himanta pledges to implement UCC if re-elected next year

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday pledged to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the northeastern state if re-elected in next year’s Assembly polls.

Terming the Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill, 2025 a step towards the implementation of the UCC, Sarma said, “I assure the House that if I return as CM, the UCC bill will be tabled in the first session of the new government and will be implemented.”

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The CM also announced that his government would bring a bill against deceptive marriage by the end of February next year.

“A bill against deceptive marriage will be brought in during the session by February end,” he said, adding, “whatever we have spoken about love-jihad, we will do that.”

Himanta said that the Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill, 2025 passed by the state Legislative Assembly is not against the Islam.

“This bill is not against Islam. The true Islamic people will welcome this Act. Countries like Turkey have also banned Polygamy; there is an arbitration council in Pakistan…,” Sarma said.

He further stated that the bill will not only cover Muslims, but Hindus, Christian and all other societies as well.

“The Hindus are not free from polygamy. That’s also our responsibility. This bill will cover people from Hindu, Muslim, Christian and all other societies,” he added.

The bill against polygamy has provisions of up to seven years’ imprisonment for individuals entering into polygamous marriages. It also calls for a penalty of up to ten years for those who conceal their marriage to enter another union.