Guwahati, April 5 In the poll-bound state of Assam, political parties are intensifying their efforts to gain the support of the influential tea tribe, a voting bloc that could decide the outcomes in dozens of constituencies.
With approximately 35 lakh voters, this community holds sway in over 35 seats, primarily in eastern Assam, and can influence results in at least 10 more in the 126-member assembly.
Their longstanding demands, including Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, higher daily wages, and land rights, have once again taken center stage in the political discourse.
The ruling BJP has highlighted its welfare measures over the past decade, claiming significant improvements in the living conditions of tea garden workers.
The party has particularly emphasized its move to grant land rights within tea estates.
"This community is no longer treated as second-class citizens. Tangible progress has been made in areas such as education and infrastructure," said Dulen Nayak, president of the BJP's Tea Morcha, pointing to initiatives such as schools, roads, and welfare schemes.
The BJP has also emphasized wage increases, from Rs 126 in 2016 to Rs 280 in the Brahmaputra Valley, and from Rs 105 to Rs 258 in the Barak Valley, and has promised to raise wages to Rs 500 in phases if re-elected.
Other measures include job quotas, reserved seats in medical colleges, and the promotion of cultural heritage like the Jhumoir dance.
The opposition Congress has countered these claims, arguing that improvements have not translated into meaningful change on the ground.
Atuwa Munda, president of the Assam Cha Mazdoor Adivasi Congress, dismissed the land rights initiative as superficial.
He alleged that the recently distributed "digital pattas" lack legal validity and due process, warning that they could create future disputes between workers and tea garden managements.
"These are election-time tactics rather than sustainable solutions," he said.
Munda also criticized the BJP for failing to deliver on key promises, particularly granting ST status and raising wages to Rs 351.
While acknowledging the recent hike to Rs 280, he argued that a one-time financial assistance of Rs 5,000 to workers offered little long-term relief.
"The government should have ensured structural wage reforms through sustained engagement with tea garden owners," he added.
In its poll manifesto, the Congress has pledged to grant ST status to the community and revive the tea sector with industrial minimum wages and expanded welfare benefits.
Meanwhile, smaller parties like the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) have also entered the fray, aiming to tap into the tea tribe vote base, though their electoral impact remains uncertain.
Despite aggressive outreach from all sides, core issues such as ST recognition and substantial wage increases remain unresolved. For now, the tea tribe community appears to be carefully weighing its options, aware of its decisive electoral clout in shaping Assam's political future.
Assam will go to the polls on April 9, and the counting will be held on May 4.