JD-U rules out alliance with BJP in Gujarat, banks on tribals

Questioning the tax incentives offered by the Narendra Modi government to business houses and blatant violation of forest land norms in tribal areas, Janata Dal-United president Sharad Yadav today ruled out any alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party in Gujarat in the forthcoming Assembly polls. Demanding setting up of autonomous tribal councils in the state, Yadav said that his party will fight elections with a promise of developing the tribals, a report in The Indian Express said. [caption id=“attachment_503873” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Janata Dal-United president Sharad Yadav. PTI[/caption] The JD-U chief said that the welfare scheme for tribals—Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojna—failed to achieve its goals. The Gujarat government came under fire from Yadav, who said that the state failed to implement the Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA), 1996 allowing more autonomy regionally. The party will contest 35 to 40 seats and will field candidates mostly in tribal areas, said JD-U state president Chhotubhai Vasava, a report in The Indian Express said.