Peasant group KMSS on Thursday announced a prize money essay competition on how to turn Assam into the country’s number one state — a move aimed at knowing much more than just the views of the general public.

The Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) organised open essay contest on the topic ‘The dream of developing Assam’ as the most developed state in India is being held in the memory of its Chah Shramik Mukti Sangram Samiti (CSMSS)’s founder general secretary Muktinath Gowala, who died on June 21 in 2017.

The winner and runners-up of the contest being held in three languages — Assamese, English and Bengali — will be richer by Rs 1 lakh and Rs 50,000 respectively. Those interested can send their entries online (kmssassam05@gmail.com) or to the KMSS office at Gandhib Basti here by July 31. The result will be declared within a month.

However, there is much more to the essay contest if one were to go by the statements made by the KMSS which is organising the contest with the support of its frontal organisations, including CSMSS, Nari Mukti Sangram Samiti and Chatra Mukti Sangram Samiti.

“Every organisation/party wants to see Assam developed. Everyone has a strategy but we want to involve the entire state, how they want to go about it and what are their hopes and aspirations. The essay gives a voice to the people of Assam to be part of this development dream. We want to see Assam as the number one state,” KMSS joint general secretary Mukut Deka told The Telegraph.

CSMSS in-charge general secretary Dipak R. Das saidthe essay contest is being held in memory of Muktinath Gowala because he led the fight for minimum daily wage of Rs 351 a day and land patta for tea garden workers in 2012, the year the frontal organisation was formed. “Both the Congress and BJP treat the tea community as vote bank. BJP hiked the daily wage by Rs 50 but after the polls reduced the hike to Rs 38. We want proper development of the community,” Das said.

Deka’s statement has to be seen in the backdrop of the May 10 announcement Himanta Biswa Sarma just after taking charge as the chief minister it was his aim to see Assam among the top five Indian states in the next five years.

Formed in 2005, the KMSS is the force behind the regional party — Raijor Dal — formed just before the March-April.

“Through the essay contest it has set the bar higher than the ruling BJP. Why should we settle for anything less than number one?” asked a Raijor Dal leader Rasel Ahmed.

By deciding to hold the essay contest in name of the promising deceased tea community leader, the KMSS was also “trying to expand” its base among the community which plays a decisive role in the state’s electoral politics.

The Congress’ freefall in the tea belt has opened an opening and KMSS is trying to seize the opportunity by actively espousing its cause.

“Every organisation, political or apolitical, wants to grow. It is good that KMSS is trying to expand its base,” Ahmed said, his reaction suggesting there was more to the essay contest.