Agartala, Feb. 2: The Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT) has changed its candidates for three constituencies because of a revolt by a section of party members, some of whom had laid siege to the residences of president Bijay Kumar Hrangkhawl and general secretary Rabindra Debbarma.
Hrangkhawl today announced that Ranakusum Reang, who was supposed to contest the Shantir Bazar seat of South Tripura, had been replaced by veteran politician Gaurishankar Reang.
The second candidate to be sidelined is Ajit Debbarma, who was to have represented the INPT in Salema constituency of Dhalai district. His ticket has gone to Manoranjan Debbarma.
The third change has been effected in Kanchanpur constituency of North Tripura district. The original candidate, Rajendra Reang, has been forced to make way for Sanjib Reang.
Dissension had wracked the INPT immediately after the party leadership announced the list of candidates. Hundreds of party activists from the three constituencies of Shantir Bazar, Salema and Kanchanpur rushed to Agartala and laid siege to the residences of the president and the general secretary.
The Trinamul Congress, too, has had its share of problems in the run-up to the elections. The most controversial of its nominations is that of BJP leader-turned-Congressman Jishnu Debbarma. He has been chosen to represent the party in the Charilam constituency (reserved for ST), but the senior politician has since announced that he would not contest the poll on a Trinamul Congress ticket.
Debbarma had reportedly requested Trinamul chief Mamata Banerjee to give him a ticket after he was refused one by the Congress. Trinamul leaders expressed surprise at his volte-face.