With the 2026 Assam assembly elections in sight, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has significantly ramped up its on-ground activities in the politically crucial upper Assam region. The party is focusing on grassroots mobilization, particularly among the influential tea garden community, to establish a foothold in an area traditionally dominated by the BJP and the Congress.
Membership Surge in Tea Garden Areas
Over the past weekend, the party, under the leadership of its Assam acting president and national joint secretary, Bhaben Choudhury, launched a series of high-energy membership campaigns and organizational meetings across Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts. This push culminated on Monday with a significant event in Tingrai, Tinsukia, where approximately 250 members from the tea community formally joined the AAP.
This recruitment drive followed earlier gatherings, including one on Sunday in the Hijuguri area of Tinsukia and an election preparation meeting held on January 3 at Raidongia, Moran in Dibrugarh district. The party is strategically conducting 'Chuburi' (neighbourhood) meetings and forming panchayat-level committees to build a bottom-up organizational structure.
A Calculated Strategy for a Key Vote Bank
The concentrated focus on the tea tribe is a deliberate political move. In numerous constituencies of upper Assam, this demographic often acts as the decisive vote bank. By directly addressing their welfare concerns, AAP aims to position itself as a credible alternative to the established parties.
Addressing the media, Bhaben Choudhury expressed confidence, stating, "The enthusiasm we are seeing in Tingrai, Hijuguri and Moran proves that the people of Assam are looking for an alternative to the status quo." He emphasized the party's commitment to tea workers and the common man. Choudhury also revealed that the party will soon announce its candidates for Dibrugarh and Tinsukia and decide on whether to contest all assembly seats in the two districts.
Filling a Leadership Vacuum
This aggressive outreach comes at a critical time for AAP in upper Assam. The party has been grappling with a leadership gap since its prominent local face, former Assam AAP president Manoj Dhanowar, resigned and joined the BJP last year. Dhanowar, a member of the tea community himself, had contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Dibrugarh, securing a respectable third position.
AAP's current strategy appears to be a direct attempt to fill the vacuum created by Dhanowar's exit and mobilize the very voter base he once represented. Political observers note that while AAP faces a formidable challenge against entrenched regional forces, its focused campaign in the tea belt indicates a clear strategy to carve out a specific niche.
The effectiveness of this groundwork and whether it can translate into a tangible political challenge will be tested in the upcoming 2026 Assam assembly polls.
