Agartala, July 15: The Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT) has stepped up its efforts to recapture the autonomous district council (ADC). Despite the formal resignation of chief executive member Hirendra Kumar Tripura, the ADC is still on the boil. It is currently controlled by the National Socialist Party of Tripura (NSPT), which is supported by the CPM. The Opposition INPT has stepped in to take advantage of the crisis.
An INPT delegation, led by party president Bijay Kumar Hrangkhawal, yesterday met Tripura governor Dinesh Nandan Sahay and submitted a memorandum demanding his immediate intervention. They tried to impress upon the governor the necessity of a new council.
Addressing a news conference here this morning, INPT general secretary Rabindra Debbarma held the non-cooperation of the Left Front government and disruptive tactics of the CPM responsible for the failure of the ADC to extend any meaningful assistance to impoverished tribals.
Blaming the CPM for the present crisis, he alleged that in its campaign to recapture the ADC through the backdoor, its leadership had lured away eight members of the INPT in July last year and allowed the defectors to form a new council with outside support.
?This council, formed by the NSPT, has failed totally in providing any relief to tribals as all the executive members are mired in corruption,? Debbarma said. He added that they had presented evidence to the governor over malpractices by the NSPT?s executive members.
He also demanded the immediate arrest of chief executive member Hirendra Kumar Tripura, who has quit his post after a large number of corruption cases against him were proved.
Debbarma said several NSPT members of the ADC were in touch with them, having expressed their willingness to return to the INPT fold.
Sources in the CPM said after sensing trouble within the NSPT, the INPT was trying to lure a section of the members and recapture the ADC. However, NSPT sources ruled out the possibility of a section of party leaders and ADC members rejoining the INPT. ?We have absolutely nothing to do with the INPT, which ruined the ADC,? said senior NSPT leader Charanjay Reang.