Guwahati, April 4 – Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma welcomed Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren to the state on Saturday, stating that Soren would have the opportunity to witness Assam’s rapid development, particularly in tea garden areas.
Speaking to reporters, Sarma said, "I welcome Hemant Soren to Assam. He can see the development that has taken place here over the years. He can visit tea garden areas and witness the transformation firsthand."
Taking a dig at the Jharkhand government, Sarma added that Soren could learn from Assam's progress. "We now have good roads, better infrastructure, and focused welfare measures. Jharkhand is lagging behind in development, and Soren can learn from our model," he said.
Sarma's remarks come amid intensifying political exchanges ahead of the Assam Assembly elections.
Recently, Hemant Soren, during his visit to the state, expressed confidence that tea-growing communities, considered a key voter base, might shift their support towards the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and its allies.
The Jharkhand Chief Minister had highlighted issues concerning tea garden workers and alleged that they had not received adequate benefits despite promises. His comments were seen as an attempt to expand JMM's political influence beyond Jharkhand.
Reacting indirectly to those claims, Sarma asserted that the Assam government has implemented several targeted schemes for tea garden communities, including improved wages, housing, healthcare, and education initiatives.
He maintained that these efforts have significantly improved the socio-economic conditions in these regions.
Tea tribes remain a decisive electoral group in Assam, and both ruling and opposition parties are making concerted efforts to consolidate their support.
With leaders from outside the state stepping into the campaign trail, Assam's electoral battle is witnessing sharper rhetoric, with development narratives and welfare delivery emerging as central themes.