Agartala, April 29: The Left Front government in Tripura is locked in a crisis over the appointment of a new advocate-general in place of the present incumbent, Bikash Bhattacharya.

A successful advocate of Calcutta High Court, Bhattacharya was appointed the state’s advocate-general during the rule of the fourth Left Front government at the request of the West Bengal CPM leadership.

When the fifth Left Front government was formed, Bhattacharya tendered his resignation. On being contacted for re-appointment, Bhattacharya — one of the busiest advocates in Calcutta High Court — refused, citing “personal problems”.

Sources in the High Court Bar said the fourth Left Front regime had drawn flak over the expenses incurred by Bhattacharya’s frequent flights to and from Calcutta during the five-year-term. The issue also came up for discussion in the Assembly and the Opposition Congress-INPT combine grilled the Left Front on this. But the government stuck to Bhattacharya because of his proven legal acumen and lack of a replacement in Tripura.

Sources said there are serious differences of opinion in the CPM lawyers’ front over the appointment of the new advocate-general.

“The most obvious choice is government advocate and die-hard partyman Utpalendu Bikash Saha but there are many who oppose his appointment to the important post,” sources said. The state government itself is keen to reappoint Bhattacharya but he himself is unwilling to accept the assignment as it diverts his attention and time from the lucrative practice in Calcutta High Court.

GMP agitation

Altogether 50 members and activists of the Gana Mukti Parishad, a powerful tribal front organisation of the CPM, have fallen prey to militant bullets since the dates for the Assembly elections were announced on January 11 this year.

Having lost the polls, rival Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura workers and supporters have started indiscriminately attacking CPM tribal leaders and workers all over the state.

Announcing this at a press meet, veteran GMP leader and vice-chairman of the state planning board Aghore Debbarma claimed that militants sponsored and actively supported by the INPT were wreaking havoc in the tribal-dominated hilly interiors of the state.

Debbarma said the GMP would launch a statewide agitation from May 17 against the misdeeds of the Autonomous District Council, controlled by the INPT, and also demand sufficient food and employment for impoverished tribals.