Cracks appear in IPFT armour

AGARTALA, March 11: The deadlock in the autonomous district council over the resignation of its chief executive member Debabrata Koloi continued even as the Governor, Lt. Gen. (retd.) K.M. Seth passed an order last night empowering the chief executive officer of the ADC to carry on the administration under rule 158(2) governing the Tripura tribal areas autonomous district council. Earlier, the Governor accepted Koloi's resignation and directed ADC chairman Hirendra Tripura to convene a special session under rule 173 to elect a new incumbent and reconstitute the executive council. The Governor had sought the government's opinion on the matter. The Cabinet, at a meeting yesterday, had said the Governor was free to pursue any course of action as per the provisions of the 6th Schedule of the Constitution. Sources in the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura, which heads the ADC, said there were differences within the party over electing a new chief executive despite several meetings. Executive member (education) Sridam Debbarma, who, along with party president Harinath Debbarma, took the lead in ousting Koloi was now being opposed by certain elected members, sources said. Rivalry between the Koloi faction and the Sridam and Harinath Debbarma faction was so intense that it led to a scuffle at a meeting yesterday. Seeing the senior party leaders fight in this manner, IPFT workers at Mandai under Jirania police station were flustered and closed down the party office there. Open clashes between rival groups of the IPFT were reported from Khumlung, the ADC headquarters, where CRPF jawans had to be deployed. Sources said the party's divisional conference had been postponed because of the latest development. Koli confidantes like Raju Jamatya and Kripa Reang are likely to be dropped to accommodate supporters of Harinath Debbarma and Sridam Debbarma in the new council. Former Chief Minister and sitting Congress MLA Samir Ranjan Barman refused to comment on the latest bickering in the IPFT saying they were internal matters of the party. However, state CPM secretary Baidyanath Mazumdar said, "Though this is an internal issue of the party, we had expected such a thing as the IPFT came to power with force with help from the National Liberation Front of Twipra." Veteran Tripura Upajati Juba Parishad leader said, "This had to happen as the party does not have a constitution nor any organisation." After an unexpected win in the district council elections held in April-May last year, the IPFT now faces the wrath of tribals at the grassroots. Even the NLFT is confronting resentment among the people over the way they helped the party win the last election at the point of gun.