IPFT ends impasse over executive committee

AGARTALA, March 19: The Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) today formed a four-member executive committee headed by Kripa Mohan Reang, ending for the time being the fortnight-long stalemate over the issue. Besides Reang, a surprise choice for the post of the chief executive member, the four other executive members who were administered the oath of office were Mohan Debbarma, Benoy Debbarma, L.V. Darlong and Krishna Kanta Jamatya. The oath of office was administered by law secretary A.B. Pal at the headquarters of the Autonomous District Council (ADC) at Khumlung under Jirania police station. The fact that the IPFT leadership did a lot of tight-rope walking to preserve party unity on clan lines is evident from the representation given to minority tribal groups. Reang, Jamatya and Darlong belong to the minority and backward tribal groups. Chairman of the earlier council Hirendra Tripura has been allowed to retain his post and the majority Debbarma community has been given representation through Benoy Debbarma and Mohan Debbarma. The surprise omission from the council is Sridam Debbarma, an aspirant for the post of CEM and the key person behind the ouster of Debabrata Koloi from the post. Sridam Debbarma and his relative and party president Harinath Debbarma had taken the initiative to oust Koloi by submitting a memorandum to the Governor, expressing no-confidence in his leadership as the CEM. Koloi tendered his resignation on March 9. Sources in the IPFT said Sridam Debbarma had been omitted because of a decision by "invisible friends" (NLFT militants) who felt that his omission would keep his rival, Koloi, happy. Senior IPFT leader and party spokesman Bijay Kumar Hrangkhawal said the choice of executive members and the CEM was unanimous and the party was more united than ever before. Regarding the downsizing of the council from six to four, Hrangkhawal said, "This has been done as part of austerity drive", but indicated that if the ADC's finances improved, the size of the executive committee may be increased in future.