BCMS making inroads into Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha-dominated gardens

A CORRESPONDENT

DOOMDOOMA: Doomdooma which is traditionally a strong Congress bastion because of its INTUC-affiliated trade union wing Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS) having control over 60 big and small tea-gardens around it, has of late faced stiff opposition from BJP-led rival trade union Bhartiya Chah Mazdoor Sangha (BCMS). With change of political scenario, the BCMS has been able to make much inroads into ACMS-dominated tea gardens.

The latest example of this got manifested in flying the flag of BCMS alongside ACMS in three of its tea garden unit offices namely, Sookerating, Raidang and Khobong TEs. The tea workers usually fly the flags regularly in front of their respective tea garden unit offices all throughout the day. It is learnt that now this programme of hoisting BCMS flags in the tea garden unit offices of ACMS is going to be taken up gradually to cover the rest of the tea gardens under Doomdooma circle as well. Interestingly, the residence of newly elected MLA of Doomdooma constituency Rupesh Goala is situated near Sookerating Tea Estate.

Although just before the election he switched over his allegiance to BJP from Congress (he was once defeated as Indian National Congress candidate in 2011) and got elected in its ticket this time, he is still holding the post of central Secretary of ACMS. When asked Congress heavyweight and former Union minister, ACMS central committee President Paban Singh Ghatowar, replied that such rival trade union activities were not allowable and if anybody was found to be involved in it, then he or she - whatsoever his or her position - would be expelled from the ACMS. On the other hand former Congress MLA, Doomdooma LAC, Durga Bhumij termed it as 'illegal' and said that it was unfortunate to see to what extent our current political values had degenerated. Without naming anybody he significantly commented, 'They also wait and see!'

Also read: Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS) decries omission of tea tribes from census exercise

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