Trinamul leaders in the Darjeeling hills have decided to focus on tea
gardens where the party's trade union is weak and the Gorkha Janmukti
Morcha enjoys total hegemony.
The ruling party of the state has woken up to the need for a strong
base in the brew belt of the hills following the total success of a
strike by non-Trinamul trade unions in the tea gardens of the hills.
The strike called by the Joint Forum - an apex
body of 24 unions, including that of the Morcha - failed to create much
impact in the plains.
"We have developed bases in the hills, but mostly in urban and
non-tea garden areas. Our supporters are present in some tea estates in
Mirik and Kurseong subdivisions but we need to cement our base in all
tea gardens in the hills," a senior Trinamul leader in Kurseong said.
When the GNLF's writ ran in the hills, the Himalayan Plantation
Workers' Union of the party had complete control over tea gardens.
"As the baton of power went to the Morcha's hand, the workforce
switched to the Darjeeling Terai Dooars Plantation Labour Union, floated
by Bimal Gurung's party. Even though Trinamul has managed to tiptoe
into the hills and could secure support in some areas, its trade union
is still not a force to be reckoned with," an observer said.
"Rapid changes in the political situation in the hills of late also
contributed to the complete shutdown of tea gardens in the past two
days. As the strike was called to protest against the delay on the part
of the state in fixing minimum wages for tea garden workers, the Morcha
leadership took no time in lending support to it," an observer said.
The Trinamul leader said its office-bearers and trade unions would be
galvanised to find a toehold for the party in the brew belt of the
hills.
"During her last week to the hills, chief minister Mamata Banerjee
had said the state government was in favour of holding GTA elections in
due time and her party would vie for seats. So, its imperative for
Trinamul to attract tea garden workers to the party," he said.
Tea garden workers and their families form a major portion of population in the hills.(TT)
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