Agartala, May 17: The state CPM leadership appointed popular tribal leader Radhacharan Debbarma as the chief executive member (CEM) of the newly constituted autonomous district council (ADC) for tribals.

The decision was taken bowing to sustained pressure from the party's tribal youth front Tribal Youth Federation, and its student wing, Tribal Students' Union.

Veteran tribal leader Ranjit Debbarma, who was CEM for 12 years, will now become the chairman of the ADC.

Law secretary Datamohan Jamatya administered the oath of office and secrecy to the CEM, other executive members and chairman at 11.30am today.

The executive members appointed to the new council are Parikshit Murasingh, Pratidhan Tripura, Rajendra Reang, Santanu Jamatya, Hirendra Reang, Jaybahadur Jamatya, Paresh Chandra Sarkar and Sandhyarani Chakma. They have been drawn from all major tribal communities of the state.

After the formation of the newly elected council, the governor will nominate two members from minority tribal communities upon recommendations of the state government.

In the swearing-in ceremony today there was a palpable sense of joy and celebration among the tribal youth and student wings of the CPM, especially among party leaders in the Jirania subdivision who had rooted for a change of guard in the ADC through Radhacharan Debbarma's appointment in place of Ranjit.

"Ranjit Debbarma is an honest and dedicated leader who had run the ADC for 12 years. In view of his age, he needed to be given lesser responsibilities. The party decided to appoint Radhacharan as CEM and Ranjit as chairman of ADC," said Nikhil Das, a senior CPM leader of Jirania.

Highly placed sources in the CPM said Radhacharan's greater acceptability to the tribal youths and students tilted the scale in his favour. "He is a good orator and a dynamic person. More than 9 per cent fall in the CPM's share of votes in this election also persuaded the party leadership to decide on a change of guard," a source in the CPM said.

Being sworn in as CEM, Radhacharan said his priority would be to ensure that all executive members and elected councillors stay in the ADC headquarters at Khumlung instead of their plush houses in Agartala. "If tribal people do not find us in their time of need they will naturally feel alienated. So all elected members, including the executive members must make Khumlung their official home," said Radhacharan. He said the fall in the CPM's vote share would be made up.

"The Indigenous People's Front of Tripura's illusory Twipraland state demand did confuse a section of voters but they will return to our fold soon," said Radhacharan. He said the party and the ADC would immediately start preparing for the election to the 527 village committees next year.