Guwahati, April 4 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday welcomed Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren to the state, saying the latter would get an 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 on the ground.”

Taking a swipe at the Jharkhand government, Sarma added that Soren could draw lessons 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 Assam’s 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 tribe communities, considered a key voter base, may 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 footprint 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 uplifted the socio-economic conditions in such 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.

–IANS

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