TMC focuses on tea gardens ahead of Assembly elections, announces campaign against Centre

Siliguri: As the 2026 Assembly elections approach, the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) is focusing on the tea gardens of North Bengal — a key political battleground.

The Indian National Trinamool Trade Union Congress (INTTUC) is going to launch a movement against the BJP-led Central government, targeting issues affecting tea garden workers. Rajya Sabha member and INTTUC state president Ritabrata Banerjee announced the campaign during a party event at Regulated Market in Siliguri on Wednesday.

He later addressed party workers at Dabgram Fulbari, emphasising the need for TMC’s mobilisation. “We will organise gate meetings at booth level in every tea garden to expose the failures of the Central government,” he said. One of the main issues to be highlighted was the non-payment of arrears and Provident Fund (PF), Banerjee said while accusing the PF office of “withholding information to shield tea garden owners”.

“Despite repeated applications, no information on the outstanding dues has been provided. This time, we will gherao the PF office to demand answers,” he said. The agitation will be conducted in two phases across North Bengal. On January 22, tea garden workers from Darjeeling district will gherao the Regional Provident Fund Office in Siliguri, while workers from Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri districts will stage a similar protest at the Jalpaiguri PF Office.

Ritabrata also criticised the BJP government for “failing to fulfil its promise of acquiring closed tea gardens”. “The Prime Minister had announced the acquisition of closed tea gardens during his visit to North Bengal, followed by a gazette notification. Yet, no action has been taken. Tea garden workers are now supporting TMC, and we will continue our programmes in every tea garden until 2026,” he said.

According to party sources, the TMC’s tea garden workers’ union is conducting year-round booth-based programmes to consolidate support among tea workers. The party plans to raise the issues of tea gardens and workers’ rights in the upcoming Rajya Sabha session and before the Parliamentary Labour Committee.