Assam: Early on Friday, the highway from Guwahati to Kokrajhar saw unusual traffic. Goods trucks lined one side, while buses and Tempo Travellers carried people ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit. Authorities had halted truck movement to accommodate the rally, but heavy rains disrupted plans. In the end, the Prime Minister had to cancel his in-person visit and instead unveil projects worth over ₹4,570 crore virtually. Despite careful planning, Assam’s monsoon played spoilsport, reshaping what was expected to be a major political and development event.
Virtual Unveilings and Tea Garden Focus
During the virtual proceedings, PM Modi inaugurated multiple development initiatives including four flyovers and two bridges in the Bodoland Territorial Council area, with investments totaling approximately ₹1,100 crore. A major highlight was the ceremonial distribution of land deeds to nearly 28,000 tea garden workers living in labour lines across Assam. Critics note that while the move brought attention to worker welfare, it contrasted with BJP’s 2016 manifesto promise to raise the minimum daily wage of tea workers to ₹351. In March 2026, the Assam cabinet approved an interim increase of ₹30 per day, bringing wages to ₹280 in the Brahmaputra Valley and ₹258 in the Barak Valley—still below the promised amount.
Political Undertones Amid Election Preparations
Assam’s tea belts are politically significant, with over 10 lakh tea workers employed across nearly 850 large estates and the region contributing roughly 55% of India’s total tea production. The tea tribe voters influence outcomes in 30–35 constituencies. Recently, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren addressed a rally in Assam’s Biswanath district, highlighting the hardships of tea workers and Adivasi communities. Observers suggest this reflects Soren’s attempt to expand political influence in Assam ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. Meanwhile, PM Modi released the 22nd installment of the PM-KISAN scheme, transferring over ₹18,640 crore to more than 9.32 crore farmers, including around 19 lakh beneficiaries in Assam.
Election Preparedness and Party Strategies
Election fever has not yet fully gripped Assam, but the BJP appears proactive, with PM Modi’s visit coinciding with the Election Commission’s final preparations. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar recently visited the state to review poll readiness. The final voter list now contains over 2.49 crore voters, a net decrease of 2.43 lakh compared with the draft roll, following a Special Revision. The BJP is seeking a third consecutive term under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, though seat-sharing talks with Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) remain unresolved. With voting possibly scheduled before mid-April’s Bihu festival, political dynamics are intensifying as parties position themselves ahead of Assam’s crucial 2026 Assembly elections.
