India, April 22 -- You see lush green tea gardens and admire their beauty. But behind this charm, life is far from easy for plantation workers, who have seen little change in their lives over the years and have no choice but to continue working.

Low wages, rising prices, and poor living conditions remain key concerns for tea garden workers in West Bengal. These issues have been raised repeatedly over the years as the state prepares to vote on Thursday (April 23) and Wednesday (April 29).

Over time, many of these workers have witnessed the rule of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] government, its decline, and the rise of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which is now facing a strong contest from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)...