As efforts to find a compromise failed, the entire team of office-bearers including president M T Khan, general secretary K Balagopal, vice-presidents G Haragopal and Kancha Ilaiah and others stepped down from positions. While Ratnamala is the new president, S Seshaiah is the new general secretary.

The change of guard in the 25-year-old civil rights body came in the wake of serious internal differences on supporting the violent methods of extremists, particularly the Peoples War Group Naxalites. Balagopal was one among those who vehemently opposed the Naxalites' ``mindless violence''.

Founded in 1973, the CLC has been undergoing a turbulent internal debate for over an year with moderates arguing that civil rights movement should condemn ``unjust violence'' beingperpetrated by Naxalites and focus attention on all forms of social oppression.

The hardliners, who are clearly in a majority, have rejected the argument and maintained that the violence committed by revolutionaries should not be equated with that of state as ``counter-violence'' was an inevitable form of resistance for the people.

Reflecting the differences, Peoples' Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) president K G Kannabiran, at a public meeting held later, advised the CLC not to justify ``counter-violence'' as it would affect the democratic spirit. ``Do not think that revolution is the solution to all issues,'' he said.

Earlier in the day, Balagopal was grilled by the hardliners for tendering an apology in the Hussainbee case. While the CLC blamed the police for the death of a surrendered Naxalite Hussainbee's husband Edanna, the police found that he was murdered for attempting to molest a women.

However, the delegates blamed Balagopal for going by the police version and diluting the issue.Balagopal's explanation that he had depended on the statements made by the brothers of the women who complained against Edanna as well as other sources was not acceptable to the CLC.

Though efforts were made to scuttle further discussion on internal differences, Balagopal, in the general secretary's report, mentioned the issues on which there was ``a two line struggle'' in CLC.

Speaking to ENS, Seshaiah dismissed the possibility of any split in the organisation and maintained that there would be no change in the programme of CLC. Commenting on the impact of Balagopal and others exit, he said, ``Naturally it will have some impact, but we are prepared for it.''

At the same time, Seshaiah, who was propped up by the hardliners, praised the contribution of the former general secretary. ``In fact, Balagopal's contribution is not only to the APCLC, but also to the civil rights movement of entire country.''

The other newly elected office-bearers are: S Subhash Chandra Bose, Raja Rao and G Lakshman(both vice-presidents), G Mohan Rao, B Chitti Babu, G Venkata Rao, Purushottam and Kranti Chaitanya - joint secretaries, G Ravi - treasurer besides six executive committee members including Haragopal and Khan.