Hrangkhawal may become IPFT president

AGARTALA, April 16: Gripped by continued dissension in the wake of the ouster of autonomous district council chief executive member Debabrata Koloi from his post, the leadership of the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura is considering a major restructuring of the party to tide over the crisis. According to information available from senior IPFT leaders, party president Harinath Debbarma will be replaced by the chief of the high-level monitoring committee, B.K. Hrangkhawal. In order to forestall any revolt from the deposed party president - Harinath Debbarma is adept in breaking parties - he will be made advisor to the IPFT executive committee as part of the restructuring. Sources said the most important proposal to curb dissension within the party and its possible split is to make Debabrata Koloi vice-chairman of the autonomous district council to mollify his ruffled feathers. Besides, another disgruntled leader, Sridam Debbarma, is proposed to be made an executive member in charge of rural development. Sridam Debbarma, who had been holding the post of executive member in charge of education, was dropped from the new council formed after the ouster of Debabrata Koloi. Debbarma's group, particularly his mentor and party president Harinath Debbarma is, however, trying to make Sridam party general secretary in place of Debabrata Koloi, who is proposed to be accommodated as vice-chairman. However, the proposed restructuring, which will be discussed at the IPFT's executive committee meeting on April 22 and formally ratified in the party's state conference next month, has evoked mixed reactions among party leaders. The deposed chief executive member, Debabrata Koloi, and his supporters have made it clear that he will not accept the post of vice-chairman until he is cleared of allegations of corruption raised earlier against him by two of his colleagues, Harinath and Sridam Debbarma. Besides, Koloi is determined not to concede the post of party general secretary to his arch rival, Sridam Debbarma. The supporters of Koloi have pointed out that according to the constitution of the IPFT, one man can hold only one post, whether in the organisation or administration.Sources said the matter was being discussed and debated by senior leaders of the party and a decision would be taken soon. What is, however, certain is that B.K. Hrangkhawal will be the next president of the IPFT while both Debabrata Koloi and Sridam Debbarma will be honourably rehabilitated. Sources added that the IPFT's executive body meeting on April 22 would also be attended by leaders of frontal organisations and representatives of "invisible allies," the militants of the NLFT.