Patna (Bihar), April 7, 2025 – In a major political jolt ahead of the upcoming elections, 15 Muslim leaders from Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) have resigned en masse in Motihari over the controversial Waqf Amendment Bill, claiming it goes against the interests of the Muslim community.
🔥 What Triggered the Mass Resignation?
The rebel leaders allege that the new Waqf Bill endangers Muslim religious properties and centralizes control in a way that is “anti-community and unconstitutional.” The leaders, including local ward heads and prominent party figures, submitted their resignations citing the state leadership’s silence on the matter.
“We are being forced to choose between our community’s future and party loyalty,” said one of the former JDU leaders.
📌 Why This Matters
The move could seriously dent JDU’s Muslim vote base in East Champaran and across Bihar.
This is the first major intra-party rebellion over the Waqf Bill.
Analysts believe it could impact the Mahagathbandhan’s narrative ahead of the 2025 Assembly elections.
🧨 Political Fallout: Is Nitish Losing Ground?
This internal rebellion has created a new headache for Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who has maintained strategic silence on the Bill despite rising protests across Bihar.
Opposition parties, including RJD and AIMIM, are gearing up to corner JDU on this issue, claiming the party has “betrayed Muslim sentiments.”
📉 The Bigger Picture: Rising Anger Over Waqf Law
The Waqf Amendment Bill, which aims to bring changes in the management of religious properties, has triggered widespread protests across multiple states. Critics allege that the bill allows government overreach and threatens community autonomy.
🔍 What Next for JDU?
With these resignations:
JDU faces mounting pressure from within.
Muslim outreach strategy may need a total overhaul.
Potential for more resignations if party leadership doesn’t address the dissent soon.
