TMC MP slams Centre over ‘false promises’ to Bengal’s tea workers, ₹1,000 Cr fund delay

Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MP Ritabrata Banerjee on Monday accused the Narendra Modi-led central government of failing to fulfill its commitments to Bengal’s tea garden workers. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha during the Union Budget 2024-25 discussion, he alleged that the Centre had promised to acquire seven tea gardens in North Bengal through a 2016 gazette notification but had not taken any action. Banerjee stated that the Mamata Banerjee-led state government had stepped in to reopen these abandoned tea estates.

The TMC leader referred to tea gardens previously managed by the Duncan Group, which the Centre had planned to acquire. He alleged that the BJP government makes commitments before elections but does not follow through. Banerjee highlighted the ₹1,000 crore fund announced in the 2021-22 Union Budget for the welfare of women and children in tea gardens of Bengal and Assam, claiming that Bengal had not received any funds from this allocation. He stated, “We don’t know about Assam, but Bengal has not received even a single rupee.”

Banerjee also pointed out the political importance of tea estates in North Bengal, where 11 assembly constituencies are influenced by tea garden workers' votes. He said that in past elections, the BJP gained support from tea workers and their families, but TMC had started regaining its voter base. He cited the Madarihat and Dhupguri bypoll results as indicators of this shift. In both constituencies, TMC candidates defeated BJP rivals in closely contested elections.

The Rajya Sabha MP further criticized the Centre for its inaction and claimed that tea workers frequently discuss how ahead of the 2026 Bengal assembly elections, the BJP may announce more promises but fail to deliver on previous commitments. He emphasized that tea workers had begun to recognize the difference between promises and actual policy implementation. Banerjee said, “In 2026, tea garden workers will not vote for the BJP because they now know who actually works for them.”

The tea industry remains crucial to Bengal’s economy, providing employment to over three lakh workers in North Bengal. Political parties have frequently focused on this sector during elections. The BJP had previously won several seats in tea-growing areas, but TMC is now pushing to reclaim its traditional vote bank. The central government has not yet responded to Banerjee’s claims regarding the 2016 tea garden acquisition promise or the ₹1,000 crore fund allocation.