Boss of backroom boys

KOLKATA: As Anwar Khan was shooting off his mouth, his rival Swapan Chakraborty -now companion in Trinamool's vote machinery -managed things from the cool comfort of his home.
Swapan, too, is under surveillance but a close aide said he was too smart to react to EC orders. "He knows when to talk and when to work," the aide said.
With Khan already in hiding, it was upon Swapan to manage the Trinamool vote bands in Cossipore-Belgachhia.Arrested only a few days ago for allegedly fanning violence against Khan, he did not step out of his home. But his men were "out in full force" in all areas surrounding BT Road. "Dada had divided the work among of us. We do not need to indulge in violence as we have planning for this day well in advance," boasted one of his aides.
The jote candidate from Cossipore, Kaninika Bose Ghosh, alleged Swapan was active from Wednesday evening itself. "His men went door to door, warning our supporters not to vote," she said.
Swapan dismisses charges of intimidation. "It is not my fault if the opposition cannot put up polling agents. Voting is peaceful. We are confident of winning," he said.
A loyalist of councillor Sita Jaiswara, Swapan was arrested on charges of attempted murder and under the Explosive Substances Act for allegedly threatening a woman and bombing the area to force her to give up her land in Ja nuary this year.
Calcutta high court had earlier stayed a lower court's anticipatory bail to Swapan for inciting violence in Cossipore before the civic polls but a fresh hearing is on. Police sources said Swapan is accused in several cases of rioting, arson, assault.Shots fired in Cossiopore: A group of CPM supporters were chatting at Ram Babu Ghat in Cossipore when alleged Trinamool gunmen fired three shots in the air around 8.30pm. No one was injured.