Assam tea garden women back BJP win, demand ST status and land rights
Synopsis
Women labourers at Dibrugarh's Manohari tea estate are celebrating the BJP's Assam Assembly election win — but their joy comes with a clear message: deliver on ST status, land pattas, and better wages. These long-pending demands have outlasted multiple governments, and tea garden communities are now watching closely.
Key Takeaways
Women labourers at the Manohari tea estate , Dibrugarh , welcomed the BJP 's victory in the Assam Assembly elections .
Workers Anju Mura and Monika Mura expressed hope that the new government will fulfil community aspirations.
Key demands include Scheduled Tribe (ST) status , land pattas , and an increase in daily wages .
Workers cited improvements in roads, electricity, housing, and healthcare under recent government schemes.
Assam's tea garden belt, home to over 50 lakh tea tribe residents, is a longstanding BJP support base.
Women labourers from the Manohari tea estate in Dibrugarh, Assam, have expressed strong support for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s sweeping victory in the Assam Assembly elections, saying the result brings renewed hope for long-pending demands including Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, land ownership rights, and higher wages.
Joy in the Tea Gardens
Workers at the Manohari tea estate on Monday said they were pleased with the BJP's win and expressed confidence in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. Anju Mura, one of the women labourers, recalled feeling honoured when the Prime Minister visited their tea garden and later arranged for workers to travel to Ayodhya. She said the women are hopeful the Union government will continue and improve upon its welfare work.
Another worker, Monika Mura, said enthusiasm was running high across the region. "The whole of Assam is celebrating," she said, while underlining the key demands of the tea garden community.
Long-Pending Demands at the Fore
Despite the celebratory mood, workers were clear-eyed about what they expect from the incoming government. The demands highlighted by women labourers include Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for tea garden communities, land pattas (land ownership documents), and a significant increase in daily wages. These issues have remained unresolved for years and are considered central to the social and economic uplift of Assam's tea garden belt.
The women also noted that in recent years, they have benefited from several Central and state government schemes, with visible improvements in roads, electricity, housing, and healthcare in their areas. However, they stressed that structural issues like ST status and land rights must now be prioritised.
Tea Garden Belt: A Key BJP Stronghold
Tea garden regions across Assam have long been a critical support base for the BJP, and this election result has reportedly further consolidated the party's standing in these communities. Women workers said they see the BJP's victory as directly tied to their own aspirations, believing that welfare initiatives under Modi's leadership have made a tangible difference in their lives.
This comes amid a broader pattern of the BJP investing heavily in outreach to Assam's tea tribe communities — a demographic numbering over 50 lakh across the state — ahead of successive elections.
What Workers Want Next
The women labourers said they want the pace of development to be maintained and accelerated. Their primary ask is that the new government in Assam translate election promises into policy action, particularly on ST status and land rights — demands that successive governments have acknowledged but not resolved. With the BJP now holding a strengthened mandate, workers say the time for delivery has arrived.
Point of View
ST status and land pattas, remain unmet. The BJP's strengthened mandate in Assam removes the excuse of a thin majority. If these structural issues are deferred again, the goodwill visible in Manohari today could erode faster than the party's strategists expect. The women workers are not passive beneficiaries — they are articulating specific, measurable asks, and that is a form of political accountability worth watching.
NationPress
10 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Assam tea garden women celebrating the BJP's election victory?
Women labourers at the Manohari tea estate in Dibrugarh expressed happiness over the BJP's win in the Assam Assembly elections, saying they trust Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and hope the new government will fulfil long-pending demands. They also credited recent government schemes for improvements in their living conditions.
What are the key demands of Assam's tea garden communities?
The primary demands include Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for tea garden communities, land ownership documents (land pattas), and an increase in daily wages. These issues have remained unresolved for years despite repeated acknowledgement by successive governments.
What is the significance of the tea garden belt for the BJP in Assam?
Tea garden regions in Assam are a critical electoral support base for the BJP, with the community numbering over 50 lakh across the state. The BJP's consistent outreach to this demographic has helped consolidate its hold in these areas over successive elections.
What improvements have tea garden workers seen in recent years?
Workers at the Manohari tea estate noted improvements in roads, electricity, housing, and healthcare, which they attributed to Central and state government welfare schemes. However, they stressed that structural issues like ST status and land rights still need urgent attention.
Who is Anju Mura and what did she say about PM Modi?
Anju Mura is a woman labourer at the Manohari tea estate in Dibrugarh. She recalled feeling honoured when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited their tea garden and later arranged for workers to travel to Ayodhya, expressing hope that his government will continue its welfare work.
