Hemant Soren, Chief Minister of Jharkhand and leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), visited Guwahati to rally support among Assam’s tea tribe and Adivasi communities ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. He addressed a large gathering at Mekalijaan Tea Estate, organized by JMM and the Adivasi Sengel Abhiyan, where he emphasized stronger land rights, political representation, and the empowerment of indigenous communities with the slogan “Abua Dishum, Abua Raj” (Our Land, Our Rule).
Soren’s 20-minute speech highlighted the challenges faced by tea garden workers, including low wages, inadequate healthcare, and limited educational access, criticizing government neglect of these communities. He accused the Assam government of failing to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to tea tribes, a long-standing demand, and advocated for self-governance for indigenous peoples.
His visit also included traditional cultural performances and participation in a meeting with the newly formed Jai Bharat Party (JBP), suggesting potential electoral collaboration. JBP president Teharu Gour indicated plans for an alliance with JMM to contest around 40 seats in the Assam Legislative Assembly, expressing confidence in their electoral success. Gour also criticized the state government’s response to ongoing flood issues, stressing that smaller communities have been neglected. While discussions with JMM were underway, no decisions regarding alliances with other parties have been finalized.
