Guwahati, April 5: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma welcomed Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Saturday, highlighting the rapid development in Assam, particularly in tea plantation areas.
In a media interaction, Sarma stated, “I welcome Hemant Soren to Assam. He can observe the progress made here. By visiting the tea plantation regions, he can understand the changes at the grassroots level.”
Targeting the Jharkhand government, he suggested that Soren could learn from Assam’s development model. Sarma emphasized, “Today, we have better roads, robust infrastructure, and targeted welfare schemes. Jharkhand is lagging in development, and its government should take note of our progress.”
Sarma’s remarks come amid escalating political rhetoric ahead of the Assam Assembly elections. Recently, during his visit to Assam, Soren expressed confidence that the tea tribe community, a significant voting bloc, might lean towards the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and its allies.
Soren raised concerns about issues affecting tea garden workers, alleging they have not received adequate benefits despite promises. His statement is perceived as an attempt to expand JMM’s political influence beyond Jharkhand.
In an indirect response to these allegations, Sarma noted that the Assam government has implemented several special schemes for tea garden communities, including initiatives related to better wages, housing, health, and education.
He claimed these efforts have significantly improved the socio-economic conditions in these areas. The tea tribe community is considered crucial in Assam’s electoral landscape, with all political parties vying for their support. The entry of external leaders has intensified the electoral competition, with development and welfare schemes emerging as key issues.
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