Agartala: The BJP on Monday announced Tripura Pradesh Tea Garden Cell with over 5,000 garden workers who recently joined the Opposition party.

At a news conference at the BJP state headquarters here in the afternoon, state president Biplab Kumar Deb said the thousands of migrant workers from Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand and other states were never given due recognition by Tripura's ruling Left Front government.

"The government terms them Hindustani. We are all Indians. But having an identity of belonging to a state is a courtesy that we shall never let down," the BJP leader said.

BJP national president Amit Shah had earlier assured to introduce minimum wages of Rs 340 in Tripura if the BJP was voted to power in the state. Referring to the assurance, Deb said his party would stand against the Left government's "insult" to tea garden workers.

The state government, in a recent cabinet meeting resolution, had announced increase in wages of tea garden workers by Rs 70.

The BJP on Monday demanded release of increased wages within a week and fulfilment of assurances before the election code of conduct is imposed.

Chandrasekhar Kurmi, leader of the newly formed tea garden forum, said they wanted to strengthen the anti-Left movement in the state with the BJP.