Tripura IPFT drama: Debbarma ousts Jamatia to assume charge

Agartala: Senior IPFT leader NC Debbarma on Thursday once again took over the charge as party president, ousting incumbent president Mevar Kumar Jamatia after an interim state conference was held at Nazrul Kalakshetra Agartala.

The junior ally in the BJP-IPFT government was engulfed by a wave of dissidence soon after Mevar Kumar Jamatia was elected party president during the two-day state conference held on April 3-4.

Party insiders said the senior leaders of the party were sidelined by Mevar Kumar Jamatia and his new team of executives sparked sharp resentment among the party rank and file. Leaders from all the divisions of the party finally jumped to the conclusion of a resurrection by ousting the new committee, said a senior party leader in the condition of anonymity.

Addressing a press conference after the interim state conference, newly elected state president NC Debbarma said, “On April three and four, a state conference was convened at Dasarathdeb Bhavan to elect the party’s new president and form the party’s central committee and central executive committee. But, the process remains incomplete. We have been forced to convene the meeting to maintain the party’s sanctity.”

Venting ire against a section of the party workers, Debbarma said, “We have noticed a number of media reports and most importantly political circles are abuzz with speculations that IPFT would soon get merged into another political party. I want to clarify that all these rumors are baseless and IPFT shall continue to work maintaining its spirit and core demand of Tipraland.”

He alleged that a section of party leaders holding responsible posts have played a role in giving strength to these rumors and party leaders at all levels are of the view that stringent disciplinary action be taken against them.

“Under no circumstances will the IPFT leave its fight for separate statehood with the sixth schedule areas of Tripura. Those who are trying to tarnish the party’s image by giving air to such baseless speculations, strict disciplinary actions will be drawn against them,” said Debbarma.

According to party leaders, 27 divisions out of a total 33 divisions attended the meeting.

“Those who failed to remain present in the meeting have extended support towards the resolution we are taking in the party meeting through telephonic conversation. The total number of delegates of the meeting stood at 410. Moreover, representatives from all the frontal organizations such as Youth IPFT, Women IPFT, ATISA and trade union bodies also extended their support,” said Debbarma.

Both IPFT leaders NC Debbarma and Mevar Kumar Jamatia are ministers in the Biplab Kumar Deb cabinet. On the future of the BJP-IPFT alliance, Debbarma said, “We forged an alliance with BJP before 2018 elections and people of the state voted the alliance to power. Make no mistake, the alliance is still intact and it shall continue to work. Simultaneously, our fight for the political demand of Tipraland shall also continue the way we staged a series of movements since 2009 in Tripura and other parts of the country including the national capital.”

Meanwhile, reacting sharply to the interim state conference convened by NC Debbarma to announce himself as the party president again, Jamatia said, “IPFT is a party of discipline. For the last 14 years, no such situation has emerged that sent out shockwaves across the state. This is an internal issue of the party, I will raise the issue before our advisory board and other senior leaders.”

On being asked about his present status in the party, he said, “See, we need to be specific about our approach. I was elected during a state conference, which is a tradition in our party for years. If things do not sort out by discussions in party forums, I shall be compelled to move the Court.”

On the charges pertaining to his proximity with TIPRA, he said, “NC Debbarma signed an agreement with TIPRA supremo. I was only following his footsteps. When the agreement was signed at Rajandar, I was not in the position to negotiate as a party president.”

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