Kolkata confidential: Whipping Lord of the rings

Incidents of thefts at a south Kolkata neighbourhood had made residents vigilant and they kept a close eye on strangers. Government chief whip Shovon Dev Chattopadhyay is also a resident of the area and one fine morning when he saw four youths loitering near his house, he beckoned them and asked them a few questions. When they failed to give him any satisfactory answer, and above all when one of them tried to browbeat him, Shovon flew in rage. The former boxer, who have won several trophies, knocked down the fourth youths. Later, they were handed over to the police. But in his upper cut, lower cut boxing strokes, the Trinamool Congress trade union leader hurt his wrist. The next day he was seen in the Assembly sporting a huge bandage around his arm. Political circles say it is because of this reason Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has chosen him as chief whip because most of the MLAs are aware of his background of the boxing arena.

Hyperactivism uninterrupted

The most pro-active CPM MLA during the recent brief session of the Assembly was Abdur Rezaq Mollah. The former land and land reforms minister was seen leading his party from the front on various issues, particularly during the walkouts. So if one day he was seen tearing copies of the Bills and government papers, the other day he wrapped up himself in a mosquito ned to protest the government's alleged inaction in tackling dengue. His hyperactivity did not stop there. At a press conference later, he interrupted Leader of the Opposition Surya Kanta Mishra and said that he was ready for a showdown with the Trinamool Congress at his constituency.

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